Miss. pols propose a ban on service to obese diners

Nation's Restaurant News,  Feb 11, 2008  

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JACKSON, MISS. -- Legislation being considered here would make it illegal for restaurants in Mississippi to serve anyone who is considered obese. Three Mississippi House members--Republicans W.T. Mayhall Jr. and John Read and Democrat Bobby Shows--have proposed H.B. 282, which would allow health inspectors to pull permits from any restaurant that "repeatedly" feeds extremely overweight patrons. The state's health department would determine the definition of obesity.

The Tampa, Fla.-based Obesity Action Coalition called on the Mississippi House to withdraw the bill, calling it "outright discrimination" and saying that it "completely perpetuates the negative stigma often associated with obesity." Joseph Nadglowski Jr., president and chief executive of the OAC, also said, "The thought of food establishments holding the power to, first, determine the health status of a patron and, second, having the ability to refuse service based on the determination of whether or not the patron is 'obese,' is completely outrageous."

Mississippi has the highest rate of adult obesity in the nation, according to a study last year by the Trust for America's Health. About two-thirds of Mississippi residents are considered overweight or obese, according to federal health data.

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The bill was referred to the state's House judiciary and public health committees, though pundits were giving the legislation little chance of getting out of committee.

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