Bloomberg declares war on Big Gulps

In the latest, and without a doubt the most laughable attempt by government officials to save us from ourselves (whether we want them to or not), New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently revealed a plan that would ban the sale of any sugary beverage over 16 ounces in any of the city’s restaurants, delis, movie theaters or even street cars.

Bloomberg cited what he says is the contribution sugary beverages make to obesity in the U.S. as the reason for his proposal.

“Obesity is a nationwide problem, and all over the U.S. public health officials are wringing their hands saying, ‘Oh this is terrible.’ New York City is not about wringing your hands; it’s about doing something. I think that’s what the public wants the mayor to do,” Bloomberg told The New York Times in making his proposal.

I could not agree more with Bloomberg that there is an obesity epidemic—heck, an obesity crisis—in the U.S. More than one-third of the nation is obese, according to the Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention. No state has met the nation's Healthy People 2010 goal to lower obesity prevalence to 15 percent. The number of states with an obesity prevalence of 30 percent or more has increased to 12 states in 2010. In 2009, nine states had obesity rates of 30 percent or more. In 2000, no state had an obesity prevalence of 30 percent or more. During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. We can all agree this country is getting fat.