Hard truth of eating too much

OUR story on the obesity crisis draining money from the NHS should be a worry to everyone.

The health service is being called upon to spend ever more money on eventualities that were never thought of when the NHS was set up.

The public has a role to play in alleviating this problem.

In our mother’s and father’s day, obesity was less of a problem. Perhaps they had it right when they gave us three square meals a day – porridge for breakfast, broth at lunchtime and mince and tatties at night.

They worked at physical jobs, whether mining, steelcutting or bricklaying – or beating rugs, polishing brasswork or washing the close stairs. It was hard, but it was healthy.

Today, all food has its calorie and fat content on the label, with information on the percentage of daily intake this represents. This is to inform us of how much to eat.

It is a hard truth. If you continually eat more than the recommended amount, you are likely to put on weight. If you regularly exercise, it benefits your health.

Study after study has shown that being overweight and not exercising will ultimately shorten your life.

Some people, it must be pointed out, have mental difficulties that lead them to eat too much. But for the majority, there is a choice.

Looking after ourselves is also looking after the country.