Is fast food causing a national rise in obesity?

A NATION gorging itself on fast food (Mail)? Solution: a hefty tax on takeaways and foods containing a high percentage of fat and sugar, and mandatory weighing of passengers at airports, with extra charges if you exceed the weight allowance. MICHAEL YORK, Northampton. HAVE you ever seen a movie where eating fast food isn’t the norm? Every High Street and shopping centre has fast food franchises. It’s hard to find a restaurant that cooks good, healthy food from scratch. JOHN EVANS, Wokingham, Berks. NOT all takeaways are fast food. Chips, burgers and chicken are cooked in lots of fat, while Chinese and Asian dishes that have been prepared by trained chefs can be healthy. Having a takeaway once or twice a week isn’t the problem, it’s what is eaten the rest of the time. MARTIN FLETCHER, Thorpe Hesley, S. Yorks. FAST food outlets are cashing in on society’s increasing view of food as fuel. If it can be obtained and consumed quickly, it means more time spent playing with technology. D. THOMPSON-TRACE, Luton, Beds. HOW ironic that every TV channel is dominated by cookery shows, but few people practise what they watch. In the past, when families sat down together to eat a home-cooked meal, there were few obese folk. JOE BLEASE, Heysham, Lancs. I DON’T blame people who say they can’t afford to cook their own food. Healthy eating recipes on TV require a dozen ingredients, most of which people don’t stock. You can’t buy just 1 tsp of chilli flakes, coriander, nutmeg or oregano, so when we are told a meal will cost £1.50 per person, you have to spend a lot more on expensive jars of spices and other ingredients to make it. TONY HARVEY, Bangor, Co. Down.