[August 29, 2006]

Parents give kids fat chance to slim

(Evening Standard Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) How do we stop child obesity?

IT'S TIME people started to take responsibility for their actions. It's no good parents blaming TV or advertising for making their children obese - the buck stops with them. Junk food advertising has been on TV during children's programmes for as long as I can remember - only now does it seem like it's an issue. If parents could be bothered to cook healthy and nutritious meals, instead of sending their kids off to McDonald's or making them live off takeaways and ready meals, this obesity problem would soon end.

Frank Jobson, Enfield

BRING back PE lessons for at least six hours a week. The major supermarkets should ensure that fruit and vegetables are cheaper than junk food. The Government should bring back milk at schools. Children should be told to play outside more than they do on their game consoles.

Or parents could stop driving their little precious to school and make them walk instead. Or how about replacing classroom floors with rolling roads and putting desks on castors, then the kids can exercise while they learn.

The teacher could speed it up every time the class gets unruly or listless.

Robbie G

IT IS difficult for children to play outside in London and, despite there being loads of parks, many young people are scared to use them because they are frightened of gangs. Get the streets cleaned up, Ken Livingstone, and then children can play freely outside.

Amanda, Canning Town

I THINK fat and sugar are addictive substances that provide an instant feeling of satisfaction. You cannot force people to take healthy options, but you can tax unhealthy food on the basis that this puts a major burden on the NHS.

Martin, Guildford

IF ORGANIC food didn't cost so much perhaps children would have a better start in life. Why is it that anything good - exercise, fresh, clean food, decent water, hell, even decent air - seems to cost so much in London, and everything bad for us costs so little?

The Government really needs to get its priorities straight. Children are our future. We don't act like they are.

Katie, Notting Hill

"EVERYONE should take responsibility for their own lives," says Labour.

Is this a major policy change or does it only apply to fat people? Must dash.

Going for a fag and a Big Mac.

Oldie53

Is airport security now over the top?

I DON'T think you can have too much security - the delays stem from the terrible organisation and management at Heathrow and Gatwick, where checking-in was terrible before the latest scare. They are appalling compared to other European airports. The measures are a convenient excuse for bad service.

David Hart, Luton

WE WOULD not have had all the problems with delays at airports if the latest security scanning equipment was in place. With the amount of lost revenue and compensation claims caused, it would have paid for these scanners within the first two days. Another example of this country not thinking ahead.

Mark, Kent

Get it off your txt

TOM CRUISE should try to behave a bit more like John Travolta: he's a Scientologist but he's not messed up.

Suz, UK

. CAN'T wait to see Snakes On A Plane: funny it is out at the same time Tony Blair comes back from his hols!

Neil, Kent

. GWYNETH PALTROW surfing? Next the Queen will be bungy jumping or Tony Blair will be rock climbing.

Hannah, Olympia

. BEN THATCHER should be banned from playing football again. Pedro Mendes is a fantastic player and his injuries could have been worse. The Football Association must take tough action.

Clemmie, Clapham

. NOW that it's been raining a lot and at risk of flooding, are we no longer on drought alert? I wish the Government would do a bit of forward thinking.

Peter, Hitchin

. VICTORIA BECKHAM is going to have her own TV show? She's as wooden as a spoon. Bring on the David and Victoria show and kick out Richard and Judy.

Now that would be interesting.

Gabe, Plaistow

. HAS anyone else noticed groups of Londoners gathering in parks and shaking tambourines at each other before dancing, clapping their hands, and then dispersing again? It happened on the top of Primrose Hill the other day.

Chris, NW1

. I EXPERIENCED the oddest Tube journey I've ever had the other day: loads of football fans screaming chants at each other over the heads of Italian tourists.

They got off the train and then two men who looked like football hooligans got on and started talking about classical music.

IPF, SW6

Copyright 2006 Evening Standard. Source: Financial Times Information Limited - Europe Intelligence Wire.

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