America is a nation gone fat. One in every four children is overweight. According to an article in Time Magazine, the national average, compared to that of other nations, puts America at the top of the list as the most unhealthy country in the world.
America appears to be gaining weight at an uncontrollable level.
So should special allowances be given to the majority of the overweight population? As of late, the overweight are asking to be included in non-discriminatory policies.
As airlines demand that overweight people pay for two tickets for the two seats they’ll take up and discrimination against the overweight in the workplace increases, the obese and overweight are apparently fed up.
Some are even asking for disability status. Although the overweight should not be discriminated against in the workplace, they should not be given the same consideration as those that cannot control their “disability”.
America has become so comfortable with its weight problem that it is making allowances for the unreasonable.
They are able to get handicap stickers on their cars so that they can park next to a guy that lost his legs in a tragic car accident.
Instead of worrying about discrimination or making special allowances, some tax dollars should be spent on programs to help out the obese and overweight.
The very term overweight connotes unhealthy – “over the weight” that one should be.
But time is being wasted and precious money spent on handicap stickers and alterations to the non-discrimination policy in every business from here to California.
Instead of wasting time being angry about how they are being treated, the overweight of America should spend some time getting healthy. Everyone would be better off. America wouldn’t be the most unhealthy nation in the world.
And the rates of other afflictions that often come with being overweight, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and even glaucoma wouldn’t be rising so steadily.
Being more healthy as a person cannot only add years to one’s life, but make life more pleasant. It’s one less thing to worry about.
For those that feel mistreated and neglected for being overweight, that is understandable.
But for those that feel as though the problem lies solely in those that discriminate, be reasonable.
“We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, sexual orientation…or weight?”
-Bridget Nance for the Editorial Board