Obesity has over the past few years become a nightmare for many. Even those keen on maintaining a normal weight are now concerned with what the future may hold for them. Some become obsessed with the problem, fearing a day may come when they will discover they weigh much more than they would like. The causes are obvious: Too much food and not enough exercise.
I recently came across a report saying the United States had started taking unconventional measures to fight the problem. The authorities there have adopted a program of punishment and reward to ensure people take the matter seriously. Those whose weight is found to fall within a certain limit are exempt from a number of service fees, while people whose weight exceeds the limit are charged the full price.
It is a practical solution that I wish we could apply in our country, where obesity has alarm bells ringing everywhere.
Imagine a police officer, who by law is required to respond quickly to an emergency, barely able to move around because he is overweight. Government officials who weigh more than a hundred kilograms boast of their obesity and tell colleagues and friends how they managed to acquire those big bellies.
If obesity is a symptom of an illness, that may be an acceptable excuse. But to boast of your obesity? How can these people serve their country and fulfill the duties required of them if they live like this? How come that more than half of the country is now suffering from obesity? One could go on asking questions, and doctors may not be able to answer all of them. Only the individuals concerned can answer these questions.
The solution lies in charging the obese, starting with these government officials. They should be asked to pay more. It is time to learn from the experience of others in tackling health problems.
Otherwise we could reach a point where many find themselves confined to wheelchairs, unable even to worship.
Arab News From the Local Press 1 March 2003
