Obese people should take responsibility, not NHS...
- 3 January 2013 11:17208175Fatties have loomed large in the press of late. These from the Telegraph...
"SIR - There was a time when being obese was socially unacceptable and the obese were teased mercilessly in the playground. This was an incentive for children to moderate their eating and for their parents to do something about it, otherwise life at school was unbearable.
These days, suggesting to patients that they walk a few miles three or four times a week results in stares of disbelief. Obesity in children is a failure of parenting, and in adults a failure of self-discipline. Free health care and political correctness are damaging the health of the nation.
Dr Alexander Barber
Camberley, Surrey
SIR - I read with dismay the Royal College of Physicians' concern that the NHS is
ill-equipped to deal with the obesity problems of the future. I have no sympathy with those who are irresponsible and undisciplined when it comes to what they consume, be it food or drink.
Our health service is for those with genuine and unexpected illnesses, not for those with self-inflicted conditions. At an estimated additional cost of £5 billion a year on top of the present £10 billion costs, it is complete madness not to insist that those people who are obese take full responsibility for their condition, instead of the NHS.
J E Thomson
Sudbury, Suffolk
SIR - For the past two years I have been carrying out voluntary work which involves my visiting and spending time at local hospitals. During that time I have become aware of the glaringly large number of NHS staff who are clearly obese.
Before bemoaning the "inadequate" provision of treatment available I think the authority should look at the example shown by their own operation.
Andrew Barratt
Bellingdon, Buckinghamshire"
From the Guardian...
Obese people could face benefit cuts
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/03/obesity-benefits-cuts
Not much; nothing so far, on curbs on advertising, sugar/fat content, MSG etc.
As there may be one or two here whose bones are on the big side. Is it helpful to learn of all the incentivisation you received at School?Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
3 January 2013 11:54208176I am unable to comment about school information as we did not have such things as "incentivisation" when I or my children were at school.
I laughed at the usual self righteous comment above about self inflicted, what about the cost to the NHS from sports injuries but of course that is a healthy? cost so it is ok.
I am one of those who is honest enough to admit they are obese and who has fought the flab since I was young. I blame my mother and father entirely as I was made to sit at the table and clear my plate before I could leave that table even though I was no longer hungry, now I eat everything put in front of me and seldom have that full feel even after a large meal.
I feel the newest witch hunt is about the overweight, we have already had the smokers and the drinkers. Not all of us who are overweight are an unnecessary drain on the NHS as I have not voluntarily seen my doctor for years, he calls me in for a 6 monthly check-up purely because of my age.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
3 January 2013 12:09208181YES jan
you cant blanket everyone in this, may be a number of reasons for itALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS - 3 January 2013 12:10208182spot on jan i predicted this would happen, the day after the public smoking ban came into force the bma issued saying that they would now go on to tackle the bigger problem of obesity.
this whole thing smacks of money saving under a guise of being concerned for our health. - Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
3 January 2013 12:16208186Howard
There is a need to responsible with your lives, whilst it should not be a nanny state
the cost implications do come into itALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS - 3 January 2013 13:07208193Maybe there should be a trap-door fitted and a pit dug underneath the homes of those susceptible to the marketing of sugar, (super-dooper-consumers, in short). Thus saving on funeral expenses.Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
- 3 January 2013 13:27208197only you could be so sensitive on the issue tom, maybe the n.h.s should employ your services as a consultant on cost cutting?
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
3 January 2013 14:18208205westminster council has rattled a few cages today,by saying benifits should be cut in there catchment area as to encourage people to ose wieght.sounds ridiculas and un workable.sad but true.