The CDC has tracked obesity among children and has found that the rate of obesity has more than doubled; obesity in some age groups has quadrupled. A radical bill in Puerto Rico has been proposed that seeks to fine the parents of children that are considered to be obese. Identification of children will be made possible with the cooperation of teachers if this bill passes.

Such a bill would be radical indeed. While I am certainly not a proponent of childhood obesity, the bill proposes invasive government regulation into the private lives of individuals. If the bill were to pass, it would create a somewhat frightening precedent of government regulating the weight of an individual, which effectively regulates one's lifestyle. In my opinion, this presents a potentially precedent.

Should obesity trends continue at current rates further into the future, I believe it is only a matter of time before government will be impelled to regulate our health in new ways. Smoking cigarettes was not only a lifestyle, but a fashion and status symbol. Ultimately, we found out just how bad those turned out to be and took previously unprecedented steps to discourage people from developing the habit. Not to long ago, you could smoke at the restaurant while you ate your food and drank a bottomless soda. We discouraged the smoking. The soda might be next.