11/22 News: Health Care

Historically Black University To Obese Students: "Take A Fitness Class If You Wanna Graduate"

Lincoln University's requirement that obese undergraduates take a fitness course to receive their degrees has raised the hackles of students and the eyebrows of health and legal experts. Officials said on Friday that the Pennsylvania college is simply concerned about high rates of obesity and diabetes, especially in the African-American community.

The fallout began last week, where seniors - the first class affected by the mandate - began realizing their last chance to take the fitness class would be this spring. Tiana Lawson, a 21-year-old senior, wrote in the student newspaper that she "didn't come to Lincoln to be told that my weight is not in an acceptable range. I came here to get an education." Ms. Lawson said she has no problem with getting healthy or losing weight, but doesn't like fat students being singled out. "If Lincoln truly is concerned about everyone being healthy, then everyone should have to take this gym class, not just people who happen to be bigger," she said.

The mandate, which took effect for freshmen entering in fall 2006, requires students to get tested for their body mass index. Students with a BMI that's 30 or above - considered obese - are required to take a class called "Fitness for Life." Some experts said recent amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act might lead to exemptions for morbidly obese students, who could argue that participating in the class would be dangerous. Also, students need more than exercise, said Marcia Costello, a registered dietitian in the Philadelphia area. The university should make sure its dining halls and vending machines offer healthy choices, she said.

Senate Democrats Frustrated With Sway Held By Moderates

A Democratic senator says moderates in his party shouldn't be allowed to dictate the terms of the health care debate and that the final bill should include a government-run option. That view, expressed by liberal Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio today on CNN's "State Of The Union", suggests the difficulty facing Democratic leaders in coming weeks as they try to rally support for legislation that would extend health care coverage to roughly 31 million people who lack it.

The Senate voted last night to begin debate. Three moderate Democrats and Connecticut independent Joe Lieberman have threatened to vote against the final bill and leave Democrats shy of the 60 votes needed to break a Republican filibuster.