Simple Changes
A Modern Modest Proposal
Briana Bryant
Undergraduate/Undeclared
The mention of the word “obesity” spurs various responses for different people. For some, the image of the golden arches pops into their mind’s eye, while others feel guilt about a personal struggle with weight. Regardless of the various feelings toward this somber subject, I can say with very little doubt that most citizens of the United States would agree that obesity is becoming an increasingly worse problem for the country. Consequently, in order for anything to change, we must decide on a remedy for this troublesome issue.
Obesity has been a subject of serious concern in my mind for several years. Having grown up surrounded by the farmlands of Wisconsin, I have seen the ravaging effects of corpulence on society. Living in the Dairy State, ice cream, cheese, and cheese curds are the favorite foods of every household. However, food preference in itself is not detrimental. The danger begins when people become obsessed with food and begin to worship it. The accessibility of these foods is definitely not a help to the residents of Wisconsin.
Rather than incessantly ramble about the dangers of portliness and its causes, I have a solution in mind, one I think you’ll find very worthy of your attention. The solution to America’s issue with obesity is simply a change in our criminal justice system. Many actions are considered criminal in our world, and all of them have consequences, some more weighty than others. Why not make obesity a criminal action with consequences that would be viewed no differently than any other crime one could commit? Once a person’s body mass index, or BMI, reached the level of 30 or above, they would then be considered obese and therefore a wanted criminal. If they were seen by the authorities, forceful arrest would be immediate. However, unlike other crimes, there would be no option of trial or sentence change. The person of size would be placed in prison immediately upon arrest and confirmation of body mass index. They would remain in prison until they reduced their weight and body mass index to a safe and healthy level. Upon official testing of the body mass index, they would be released. While in prison, the person guilty of stoutness would be subjected to a strict regimen of exercise and food monitoring. The sentences of these criminals would vary greatly, depending on the person’s diligence and determination to better themselves. If the criminal had no ambition to change his/her body, then said criminal would remain in prison for the remainder of their natural life.
Some critics may object to this solution to obesity, saying heaviness in humans is a complex problem in need of a complex solution. However, obesity is really much simpler than the general public and the media believe, so a simple solution is truly what is required. Besides, the various solutions that have been attempted have not been successful, namely weight-loss pills, healthier dining options, and programs such as Weight Watchers.
My proposed method of dealing with obesity would also give overweight Americans a form of incentive to lose weight. The prospect of possible incarceration would frighten people out of being obese. Once all the rotund citizens were securely placed in prisons, those who were overweight and bordering on obesity would begin to feel more outnumbered in comparison with the thin people. This would in turn encourage them to lose weight, preventing more people from entering the prison system and being known as criminals.
Declaring obesity a punishable crime makes it undeniably clear that obesity is a serious issue and it is not acceptable to be plump. The government would simply be reinforcing this idea with cold, hard punishment. Similarly, the government has decided that it is wrong to steal, use certain drugs, murder others, and many other acts. By passing laws against these actions, the government showed that it disapproved of them and wasn’t going to allow its citizens to participate in that type of behavior. This, I believe, is also the correct approach to be taken in regards to obesity. Once the government outlawed that way of life, Americans would start to realize it was wrong. Many would change their lives on their own, without the finality of prison time. Those that didn’t would serve as an example for the rest of Americans.
As is true with any revolutionary plan, there are going to be naysayers. People are going to argue that imprisoning obese people is an inhumane way to deal with a very human issue, not to mention a very expensive solution. However, this practice would make the plump prisoners healthier by helping them to lose weight and teaching them about safe dieting. In regards to the amount of money used, I believe this proposal to be a very noble way to make use of the government’s money. The money used to build extra prisons for obese prisoners would be very beneficial in the long run, an investment for the future. The problem of rising health care costs would also be solved with obesity prisons because the number of overweight individuals would decrease. Consequently, the need for these prisons would decrease as well over time.
Therefore, this proposal would cure two problems simultaneously.
Many readers will condemn this commendable program simply because it has never been implemented before and therefore cannot be morally sound. However, an outrageous solution is what America needs to make major changes. Clearly, overweight civilians are not going to just take charge and change themselves on their own. They’re not going to start exercising or eating healthier without the government mandating it. Clearly, positive reinforcement is not what they need. They need to be punished for their actions, and the best way to do this is through prisons. Therefore, a simple change in the criminal justice system is all America needs to turn around in a positive direction. These opinions spout from an educated college student who has studied obesity patterns and statistics and has a valid solution to share.