NAAFA Strongly Opposes Nevada S.B. 402

LAS VEGAS - April 19, 2015 - PRLog -- NAAFA, the premier civil rights organization dedicated to Equality at Every Size, strongly opposes Nevada Bill S.B. 402. Passage of this bill would attempt to define and declare obesity a “chronic disease” and require the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services to collect data and prepare an annual report on obesity.

Body weight is not a proxy for health. Assuming so is both unscientific and prejudicial. These assumptions lead to bias and discrimination in education, the workplace, healthcare, family relationships and social dynamics.

The State of Nevada wishes to define what the American Medical Association Council says they cannot.  Why does the State of Nevada want to define and track “obesity”? To qualify for grant funding, of course. One might assume that more money coming in to “fight” obesity would lower the number of obese people and lower healthcare costs to the state. But one would be wrong.

A 2013 study from the Truman School of Public Affairs at Missouri University (MU) found that higher state health spending positively correlates to higher obesity rates. Charles Menifield, a professor in the Truman School of Public Affairs at MU, says his findings strongly suggest that governmental spending efforts in fighting obesity have not been successful. [Association of Black Faculty Nursing Newsletter, 2013]

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force found insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for overweight in children and adolescents as a means to improve health outcomes. If Nevada is not looking to improve health, what are they looking to accomplish? The Task Force noted potential harms of screening programs, as well as obesity prevention and treatment interventions, including “labeling, induced self-managed dieting with its negative sequelae [consequences], poorer self-concept, poorer health habits, disordered eating or negative impacts from parental concerns.” Why try something that has been proven to do harm?

NAAFA asks that you join us in opposing Nevada S.B 402. This bill has already been approved in the State Senate. Please sign our petition to Governor Sandoval and the members of the State Assembly at: https://www.change.org/p/nevada-governor-nevada-state-hou...

Founded in 1969, NAAFA is a non-profit civil rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through public education, advocacy, and member support.

On the web: http://www.naafa.org