Better eating habits

SIR – I don’t think the Government’s plans for tackling obesity, such as encouraging GPs to prescribe cycling (report, July 26), will have much effect.

It’s all down to people’s eating habits. My husband and I eat mostly homemade, reasonably healthy meals, with fruit (and occasionally ice cream) for dessert. We rarely eat snacks and only have cakes as a treat. We are not super-slim and our waistlines have thickened a little with age, but neither of us has gained more than a couple of pounds in the past 20 years.

I don’t understand why some people wait until they are several stone overweight before taking action.

Barbara Smith

Stafford

SIR – When I lost weight – purely for my own health – I received many compliments from my friends.

Yet not one had pointed out beforehand that they thought I was carrying a bit too much weight. The problem with obesity is that, unless someone tells you that you need to do something, you probably won’t. Then again, the friend who told you would quickly be unfriended.

Stella Currie

Bramhall, Cheshire