tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post8043752297402958887..comments2023-10-27T07:50:27.411+01:00Comments on Next Left: Change4LifeTom Hampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917325958130851128noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-33807539949662488492009-01-02T23:14:00.000+00:002009-01-02T23:14:00.000+00:00As someone who has been overweight for a while (an...As someone who has been overweight for a while (and to my displeasure probably now obese - although I was like a rake as a lad), I was struck a while ago by <A HREF="http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,640010,00.html" REL="nofollow">this</A> column on the subject from Will Hutton.<BR/><BR/>In it, he calls for everything from taxing fatty snacks like cigarettes and breaking the long hours culture, to the need for beefed up local democracy, so we can collectively design healthier local environments. <BR/><BR/>He writes: “It is platitudinous to describe obesity as the result of lifestyles, poor eating and little exercise - making the problem one of individual choice and individual irresponsibility. A small minority buck the trend through great efforts of self-discipline, but the overwhelming majority are the victims of the great economic and social forces that generate obesity. Obesity is a direct consequence of how they deny us control over our time and make food and drink consumer goods like any other gods that are sold aggressively, such as shoes or cars. Obesity, in short, is the result of modernity.”<BR/><BR/>Some might call this buck-passing - and to be honest there’s a fair few things I could realistically do better - but I think it sums up the counter-argument to <A HREF="http://www.politics.co.uk/news/opinion-former-index/health/-no-excuses-being-fat--$1238061.htm" REL="nofollow">Andrew Lansley</A> brilliantly. I don’t agree with his call to adopt the Euro, but Hutton makes most other public intellectuals seem like lightweights.Robert Alcockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14244882444401753270noreply@blogger.com