Frist Balances Carrots and Sticks in Obesity Debate

Frist speaks at an obesity roundtable organized by the Nashville Health Care Council. Photo credit: (c) 2012, Harry Butler, Nashville.

Bill Frist says he believes “education” can still boost Tennessee’s poor rankings in childhood obesity, even while places like New York City are banning big gulps. The former Senate Majority Leader was part of an obesity forum in Nashville Friday.

Frist sees obesity going the way of smoking, which has been cut in half since the 60s in part by using regulations and taxes.

“It comes back to changing the culture, giving incentives for people to change, and then in some cases using sticks, not just carrots, but sticks. The real question and where we are with obesity is how far can we go with the carrots.”

Frist says corporations in Tennessee could do a lot more to incentivize healthy living. That’s a main focus of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Partnership for a Healthy America, of which Frist – a Republican – is an honorary co-chair.

If education doesn’t work, Frist sees regulation – or what he calls “punishment” –becoming more widespread. Asked if he could support obesity-focused laws, Frist says “we’ll see, but I prefer to empower people.”

Metro Health Director Bill Paul also participated in Friday’s roundtable, organized by the Nashville Health Care Councli. He mentioned a few instances of companies in Nashville incentivizing healthy living. One pays employees 50-cents a mile to walk or bike to work.