There is no sacred right to be a lazy fat slob

Julian Fruppapoipepauppioioip

There is a sacred right to be a lazy fat slob. It's called freedom. There may not be a sacred right to have your fellow citizens pay for your "lifestyle choices" but if we clamp down on lazy fat slobs, who will be next to fall foul of the mediocre social workers? Skiers? People who have sex?

N

Two questions: thanks to the world economic crisis money is tight, what if i don't have money to afford my personal trainer, then what? What if the fat takeout food is all i can afford? Am i still responsible if i get fat due to poor diet and lack of excercise?

anna

dear Mr Jones, not everyone who is overweight is a lazy fat slob: ask any doctor or medical scientist. looks like fatties are the latest recipients of "licenced racism"; forbidden to preach hatred of religious, racial or sexual groups, you've got to target someone, haven't you?

Sebastian

N, once again you have resorted to blaming someone else for your lamentable plight: the 'World Economic Crisis' does not prohibit you from going for a jog, swim or any other form of exercise which is do-able in the absence of a personal trainer. Further, the idea that take-away food is cheaper than making your own is ludicrous: in the medium to long term, buying your own food and making a week's worth of meals from it is far more economical than buying the 'cheaper' take-away foods on a regular basis.

James R

'we [thin people] should be rewarded.' says Mr Jones.
But surely dripping self-satisfaction is its own reward.

David Short

This is the sort of c**p that Giles Coren has already written ad nauseam in The Times. It's bad enough that drivel is published in a quality daily newspaper, even worse that second-hand, worse drivel sees the light of day in an expensive, formerly serious political and literary weekly.

ian skidmore

can there be anything more damning than to be compare, rightly, to Alan Coren who gives nepotism a bad name,

Gil

Here's a way to start to tackle incipient obesity: Regard sugar (mainly white) as POISON. That's right, sugar is lethal. Everything else in moderation but portion sizes to be cut drastically. Also, watch the salt it too has the potential to be POISON.

This mindset requires incredible discipline and self control. The people here ain't got it.

David Short

Ian S. I listed the names of second generations journos, media types and Old Etonians. As a number of names ticked more than one box and were associated with The Spectator, I'm not surprised it was censored, even though it was a serious comment on the decline of journalism and the open society, the raising of class barriers and the return of privilege.

Hmmm. Says a lot about the new-style Spectator.

Cameron just lost my vote.

c chapman

Good food need not be expensive - think pasta and ragu, home made soup, pot au feu. It just takes imagination and planning as shown by European peasants for centuries. Get off the bus or tube a stop or 2 early and walk. Don't tax or give tax breaks - just educate in schools so young people can enjoy good food cheaply. Here in Italy our local schools work with grandparents to teach children how to grow vegetables and once year there is a lunch open to everyone in the community to enjoy the fruits of their labour. This is what is missing in UK - community involvement and not self serving tax incentives for metrosexuals et al.

Forlornehope

We know perfectly well what it takes to be healthy. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables, drink alcohol in moderation, take half and hour of vigorous exercise at least five times a week, don't smoke (anything), keep off junk food, only sleep with people if you really care about them, or if you must shag around use a condom. That's it and unless you are very unlucky you will live long, and healthily, in the land. It's actually not very difficult, or expensive.

Andy

Gil. Hear, hear! Unfortunately most "food" available is loaded up with sugar, even for straightforward items like a plain cooked chicken. It should also be noted that wheat based products and potatoes also have the same negative effect on the body. If you ever fancy some amusement do some research on this, and then go and look at the governments dietary guidlines website... Would be funny if it wasn't having such disasterous consequences on the population.

Zac Smith

There is no obesity crisis. Some people are fat. If they are, they will die earlier, usually of fairly inexpensive diseaeses. I reckon (and would welcome evidence either way) that fat people dying at 55 is a net gain for the taxpayer. Regardless, attempts to engineer health are a waste of time and money. Health is an individual's responsibility and no one's business but their own.

Susan

cancer is NOT a fat man's disease, you ignorant fool. Most people I knew and died from cancer were NOT even overweight. I recenltly lost 60 lbs, but ALWAYS struggled with my weight, and YOU call me fat and lazy?? What bad habits do you have?? I dare you to list them. I personally cannot STAND people like YOU!