An appetite for power.(Between The Lines)

ITEM: The Los Angeles Times for July 16 reported: "Federal officials ... announced a new policy on obesity that could make weight-loss treatments eligible for Medicare coverage. 'Obesity is a critical public health problem in our country that causes millions of Americans to suffer unnecessary health problems and to die prematurely; Tommy G. Thompson, secretary of Health and Human Services, said...."

Obesity also has triggered legislation, said the paper; "such as the Healthy Lifestyles Act and the Obesity Prevention Act ... designed to reduce the problem.... According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly two-thirds of Americans are classified as overweight ... or obese...."

BETWEEN THE LINES: While obesity is certainly a problem for some individuals, it's hardly a "public" health crisis, except to those who won't be satisfied until Washington runs everything. By widening its designations, however, the government can create an epidemic. Indeed, in 1998, with a figurative stroke of a pen, 38 million additional overweight Americans were created when that definition was changed.

Using Body Mass Index (BMI) figures (a proportion of height and weight, from the Center for Consumer Freedom), look at some of the fit professional athletes and celebrities whose bodies are defined as overweight and obese. Among the officially "overweight" are ...