Last week on Monday morning on my way back from my walk, I listened to the radio and heard there was a phone in about the following government proposals to beat obesity:

- to increase the tax on fizzy drinks by 20%

- to limit the number of fast food outlets near schools

- to ban junk food and vending machines in hospitals

- to have no advertising of unhealthy food before 9 pm

All very commendable propositions but only a drop in the ocean. According to an accountant friend of mine an increase in tax on foods will not change people’s eating behaviour. But what will?  There needs to be more education and greater awareness of the composition of the foods we eat, in particular the processed foods which tend to be very high in salt, sugar and fat….. HHHHHMMMMM horse meat!

To be honest we all know what we ought to be doing to conquer obesity: eat healthily ( more fatty fish, vegetables and fruits, fewer prepared foods and less alcohol) exercise more and drink plenty of water. So why don’t we do it? Big food manufacturers, advertisers and television certainly won’t and even the state is beginning to grumble. Only willpower can save us.

Food for thought:

Where can you buy willpower?

The Olympic games are nearly finished  and  thousands of athletes have been

pushing their bodies to the limit while we have been watching them on TV,

sitting inactive for hours on end.

A lack of exercise is now causing as many deaths as smoking across the world a

study suggests.

It was found that people in higher income countries were the least active with

those in the UK among the worst, as nearly two-thirds of adults were judged not

to be doing enough.

So what can we do about it?

Very simple: 150 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking,

cycling or gardening, each week. That together with eating the right

foods and 2 litres of water a day will improve your health considerably.

We need to give physical activity priority in our daily lives to improve our health

and reduce the burden of disease.

Watch this space for regular diet and healthy eating advice, recipies and suggestions…