Uncle Sam Wants to Know: How Much Do You Weigh?

Folks…it is getting scary out there. I told you this was coming, and here it is. Buried in the mass of stimulus legislation is a new regulation requiring every American have a BMI (Body Mass Index) rating by 2014. This number must be entered into a national data base, and be available on an electronic “national exchange” along with your height and weight.

The government spin on this states that BMI is the most important indicator of health issues, and that all the health care professionals taking care of you should know what it is. Your health care providers are required to make “meaningful use” of the Electronic Health Records (HERs) or face substantial fines and/or penalties.

On the surface, nothing is wrong with that. We all want to stay healthy. But you're dealing with the government here, and that type of information floating around is dangerous. Since the government is now taking an active role in health care with all sorts of insurance regs, exchanges, policy boards (re: Death Panels) determining how much treatment you can get at what age…it seems only fair that the government be able to dictate not only how much you should weigh, but also what you BMI should be. Afterall, since the taxpayer must foot the bill, it is in the public interest to make sure you are fit as a fiddle, or be denied coverage or taxed for the extra weight. Seems far fetched? It's already happening in Britain! What about weekly weigh ins? Now there's the ticket.

And with Michelle Obama going around screaming about obesity…child obesity…look for the health police to monitor what is in your refrigerator and what you serve at dinner. Listen up, folks, there is no end to how much good these people want to do.

Like I preach every week, this “good” generally goes counter to normal human behavior, and has to be “enforced”, or as they would say – “encouraged.” With do-gooder agencies going after McDonalds and Kellogg’s and other food businesses, they will see a source of infinite revenue and infinite regulations…all because they know what is good for you.

And all of that information will be swirling around the internet. Freedom loss creep is alive and well under Barack Obama, and his band of merry, progressive do-gooders. Watch out. It’s your freedom. PS: The picture at the top of the page is Surgeon General Regina Benjamin. Looks like she needs a little BMI work herself.