Obesity now a taxable offense in Alabama

The state of Alabama has announced a new plan, which requires all employees to be annually screened for obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high glucose levels.

Employees found in violation of any of specified size and levels will be forced to pay an additional $25 a month ($300 per year) for health insurance beginning in 2011. Currently, single workers pay nothing; family plans run $180 a month.

According to the Los Angels Times, the new requirements will affect "…more than 37,000 people employed by the state."

Recently, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that Alabama is the second heaviest state in the nation with a 30% obesity rate, just behind Mississippi.

After paying around 1.2 billion in medical charges last year, the state is trying to kill two birds with one stone. Obesity, and medical fees.

Webster's Dictionary definition 'obese' as: "Grossly fat or overweight," but who is to decide what 'grossly fat' actually is?

Employees will be given a Body Mass Index (BMI) tests to determine if they are obese. The BMI examines height in relation to weight on both males and females to calculate the amount of body fat on an individual.

In addition, Alabama state officials are offering employees discounts to specific health facilities such as the YMCA and Weight Watchers, as encouragement to adopt a wellness program. If they do not provide evidence that they are making an effort to loose weight, they will be taxed.

The Beacon contends that if a state taxes employees who are obese, shouldn't it also tax employees who appear excessively underweight?

Vegetarian Diet Info states that individuals who are underweight have a higher risk of anemia, bone loss, nutrient deficiency, heart irregularities, amenorrhea (loss of periods in women) and osteoporosis in later life.

It would be unfair to charge one group and not the other. But why stop there? What about taxing those folks who have previously battled cancer? Better yet, how about those who are simply genetically predisposed to cancer based on family history? Obviously, those folks pose a possible drain on health funds.

Another factor to consider are the effects that prescription drugs and medications may cause.

Charlene Laino, former editor of the New York Times Syndicate Health News Service, stated that experts estimate that at least 50 common medications possess the potential to cause weight gain. Some of which include, Paxil, Zoloft, Nexium, and Diabinese.

And what is to become of money that Alabama has the potential to generate?

If 30% of 37,000 employees are charged a fee of $25 a month, the state will collect roughly $333,000 each year in generated revenue. That money can easily be applied to the rising costs of health insurance.

So far Alabama is the only state to impose such a fee on state employees, but each state does have the power to enact the tax.

While we encourage healthy and active lifestyles, when it comes to charging people who are obese more for health insurance--which the state has agreed to provide--we feel that it is both excessive and discriminatory. If the states are going to reconsider their health insurance regulations and guidelines, then they should take into consideration all aspects of physical and mental health, not just the obvious ones that seem to be costing them additional money. To pick and choose with respect to health risks unfairly singles people out.