Obesity is not an illness, it is a lifestyle choice, says Tory peer

BRITAIN is becoming a nation of “fat, idle people who will bankrupt the NHS”, a Conservative former minister has said, as he described obesity as “a lifestyle choice”.

Lord Blencathra, who stepped down as an MP in 2010 because he has multiple sclerosis, said the Government should have the courage to say in “blunt terms” that obese people need to eat less and exercise more, rather than expecting the NHS to help them.

Obesity costs the health service around £6 billion per year and the economy as a whole £27billion, and is classed as a “disease” by the Government.

Lord Blencathra, who as David Maclean was a home office minister in John Major’s government, told the House of Lords: “We seem to be waiting for a magic pill so we continue our gluttony and lazy lifestyle and hope that the NHS will fix it for us without having to change our behaviour one iota.

“If we scoff more calories than we burn off, then we get fat and obese. Obesity is not an illness, it is a lifestyle choice. We are creating a nation of fat, idle people who will bankrupt the NHS

‘We seem to be waiting for a magic pill so we continue our gluttony and hope the NHS will fix it for us’

and we should have the courage to say so in blunt terms.”

The Conservative peer was speaking during a debate on steps to tackle the nation’s growing weight problem.

He said the recommended daily calorie intakes – 2,500 for men and 2,000 for women – were “generations out of date”, because they date back to the 1800s, when the UK population was much more active.

He said: “It is nonsensical to retain these grossly excessive calorie levels now” and called for them to be revised downwards “to recognise our indolent, lazy lifestyle”.

Lord Mccoll of Dulwich, a surgeon and Conservative peer, agreed, saying: “The cure is free. Eat less. Put fewer calories in your mouth.”

Lord O’shaughnessy, the health minister, said: “It should be thought of as a disease, if not an epidemic, because it appears to be catching.

“It appears that if your peers are overweight, you are more likely to be overweight – that is a catching thing. Whether it is a meme rather than a disease, it is something that can be spread.

“In the end it is about helping people to develop a healthy relationship with food.”