‘Fat Shaming’ Idea to End Obesity Epidemic

We all know that there's an obesity epidemic in America.  Even if you didn't read the stats all you'd have to do is look around to know that.  Health related agencies have been trying to figure out how to tackle this problem and have tried education to no end.  There's so much information on the risks of being overweight out there that I would dare say that it's very common knowledge and yet, we still have overwhelming statistics on obesity. 

Well, there's an idea to help fight the obesity problem from Daniel Callahan, who is president emeritus of the Hastings Center - a bioethics research institution.  He thinks we should all start "Fat-Shaming" the overweight population to shame them into dropping weight. Callahan wrote about his idea in a new article, "Obesity: Chasing an Elusive Epidemic." Callahan writes, "As a smoker, I was at first criticized for my nasty habit and eventually, along with all the others, sent outside to smoke, and my cigarette taxes were constantly raised. The force of being shamed and beat upon socially was as persuasive for me to stop smoking as the threats to my health ... Why is obesity said to be different from smoking?"

Now I'm not saying his idea of shaming people into getting into better shape wouldn't work.  It might have a significant impact but at what price?  Since when is shaming people into doing something a good thing to do?  It is a great way to end up with a large population of people who will need an appointment with a Shrink.  Two negatives don't equal a positive in my eyes.

What do you think?