The obesity epidemic in Britain is mistakenly targeted with medical treatments and doctors' appointments, says Dr Meldrum

Controversial: Dr Hamish Meldrum, head of the British Medical Association, says obese people are just greedy

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True, obese people pay tax and NI too, but if they consume more of the NHS resources to have their conditions treated for something avoidable than those who are well because they look after themselves better, then they should contribute more than the basic proportion.

It takes months, if not years, to become obese. During that time, it isn't just appearance, one can 'feel' it if one's fitness, energy levels and endurance have changed.
I exercise regularly and I go up four flights of stairs at work. I stopped exercising for a few weeks when on holiday, did I notice the difference when I took those stairs after I came back!

No, obese people don't purposefully put on all that weight, and it could have become a downward spiral when they didn't keep themselves in check. So, the key is to be MINDFUL: check intake and activity levels. However, that's already too much to ask for some people.

- Renee Trance, Kingston, UK

I entirely agree with him! Due to ever increasing portion sizes and wide availablity of processed rubbish, with society's demand to have everything 'now', people are getting fatter and fatter and taking no responsiblity for their action. It's ludicrous. I am severely hypothyroid and thus have a slow metabolism but I have a healthy bmi maintained through balanced diet and exercise. No one seems to want to take responsibility for their own actions any more - even when their actions of shoving vast amounts of lard into their faces is making them fat. The pounds don't pile on by breathing.

- Fiona, Aberdeen

Absolutely spot on - we are fast becoming a nation of big fat slobs - and you just cannot hide the facts away. In fact I sometimes wonder how surgeons must be in absolute awe when they contemplate operating upon such people.



- Robert, Kirk Ella, East Yorks.,

I hope he will take the same action for people in car crashes and not treat them either , then they will take responsibility for driving badly , and also people who are injured as a result of alcohol related assaults , they shouldnt go where there is a likelihood of violence, or perhaps people injured at work , they should be more carefull , in fact we the public should realise the nhs is not run for our benefit but for the benefit of those like Dr Meldrum , or is it Meldrew ?

- Brian, wiltshire

I have wasted many years of my life obsessing about food, and over eating due to the constant pressure to diet. About five years ago, I gave up dieting for good, and while I am still classed as "obese" my weight has been steadily going down, rather than drastically reducing before drastically increase once again when off the diet. I resent the implication that I may be just greedy, rather than the fact that my metabolism is probably wrecked from the many years of abusive dieting. The very word "diet" is counterproductive and leads more to faddy eating and binge eating than not dieting at all.

Since I have been on my "non-diet" I am not obsessing about food, I am not craving all the so called "bad things" that when eaten in moderation aren't as black as they are painted. I have learned to listen to my body tell me when I am hungry, and as such have been losing weight.

I must repeat once again that I resent the fact that I may now have fingers pointed at me, and get called greedy because I weigh more than I am told I should, when mostly I eat less than some of my slimmer friends.

- Christine, Aldershot, Hampshire

This is the problem with socialized medicine. Free individuals should have every right to make these "lifestyle choices" assuming any associated risks - including dying early or higher medical expenses. But when government provides healthcare for all, it is going to seek to constrain the rights of individuals in the name of the greater good.

- Jude, london, uk

The only true method of weight control is the same as it has always been and will always be:

Healthy diet and plenty of exercise!

That is a lifestyle. People these days just want to loose weight the easy way.... take a pill.

It takes work and dedication to get yourself to live healthy.

- Barbara, California, USA

Eat less, exercise more. You lose weight, end of story, full stop.
Anyone that is obese and won't eat less is greedy. Anyone that won't exercise is lazy. End of story, full stop.
Political correctness shouldn't stop us - let alone the head of the BMA - calling obese people what they are ie fat and greedy.

- Matt, London

So following that logic, alcoholics shouldn't be treated neither should smokers with lung cancer and extending it to a slightly more ridiculous level, if you drive a car and have an accident that was your fault you shouldn't receive NHS treatment for this either?

Perhaps what ought to be done is educate people more about the risks to their health by eating excessively and helping them overcome the emotional problems that are often to blame for the eating rather than excluding them from treatment.

- Lesley, Orpington

Obesity isnt a medical condition that needs to be treated by drugs, neither is it a result of people being 'greedy'. Obese people are often malnourished, because they are eating 'food' that has no nutritional value. If you are eating processed foods or foods that aren't organic, you will be deficient in vitamins and minerals and secondary nutrients that the body needs. Therefore, even if your stomach is full, your body will still be crying out for these nutrients, and hence you will eat more. Most people wake up, eat wheat based empty cereal for breakfast, coffee and cake mid morning, sandwich for lunch, pasta with bread for dinner- all they are doing is eating is wheat which has little value and just bloats you.

I haven't even touched on the effects of alcohol, soft drinks and juices. It would be better for them to have their usual dinner for breakfast, combine that with a large lunch to fuel you for the day, and a light dinner before going to bed. You need to eat for your genetic type - eskimos are designed to eat fish and fatty meat - not fruit and veg, it will make them sick. Our bodies haven't evolved over the past 100 years to cope with processed foods that civilised society is producing today - we are cavemen in suits. Rule of thumb, if it wasn't around 3000 years ago - dont eat it; give it to someone you dont like!!

- Grant, London

Whilst Chris from London has a point, so to does Mark. Apart from a vast majority of Americans devouring junk food at an alarming rate, in general their portion sizes are ludicrously big. On the occasions I've visited the US, I've either had to leave a great portion of my meal untouched or my husband and I have shared what people in the US think of as a portion for one person.

- Geraldine, London

"Almost one in four adults and a quarter of 11 to 15-year-olds in Britain are obese"

That means 3 in four adults and three quarters of 11 to 15 year olds are not obese!!

- Bj, London, England

At last someone talking the truth and not caring about all this nonsense about the fact that being fat is a disease or in the genes. There are probably 1% of the population who suffer from hormonal imbalance or true medical condition. The rest are just fat because they eat rubbish and give their kids crips to eat as soon as they are able to chew.

- Nathalie, Putney, London

Well said that man! I can imagine so much money is wasted every year by these people who frankly, dont deserve any help at all. Lets face it, 99% of fat people are greedy. There is no need for them to eat as much as they do or do as little exercise as they do. And surely if you notice that you are nudging the 15 stone mark, do you not stop to think you might need to sort your life out? Such a waste of money, let them kill themselves if thats the way in which they want to live their lives - they have had ample warning.

- Davey, Glasgow

Chris - the difference is that if you break your arm skiing, it's an accident. Obesity is not an accident. It is simply caused by eating too much combined with a lack of exercise. Fact. None of us need to be doctors to understand this. Part of the problem these days is the rubbish that's put in food. But even so we still have the choice about how and what to eat.

And also, the other problem is that people are lazy. How many people do you see standing on escaltors or taking lifts, taxis or buses when they can walk? It's all part of the same problem. Why should I pay for fat people to take pills when it's all their fault and purely preventable.

- Sean, Central London

Totally agree with the doctor's comments. Fat people are greedy people who have no self control. There is plentiful and wonderful tasting food out there and they can't get enough of it!!

- Helen, London

I agree with Chris, more often than not obesity can be directly linked to depression and comfort eating. It's not just about greed - what a stupid and insensitive man. And if he is saying don't treat obesity with medication then by his reasoning heroin addicts and even cigarette addicts should have their medical treatment stopped. Should we stop treating anorexics too? Afterall they too have a choice in the beginning as to whether to eat normally or to starve themselves. Don't say that anorexia is a psychological condition and then say obesity is not. Only someone with no experience in either eating disorders would say that.

Sure, giving someone who doesn't have the willpower to curb their eating a magic pill to stop them over eating is not ideal and other means should be found to help obese people slim down but this man is being far to black and white about the situation and extremely sweeping about it too. Have a bit of compassion people.

- Isabel, Woking, England

I agree whole heartedly with the Doc. Simple application of common sense (Kathleen take note - its not a scientific problem) no need to spend millions on a "study" to prove this.

- John, London, UK

At last someone prepared to tell it like it is. Very few instances of obesity are due to a physical condition. They make the choice to eat themselves to death, they are not 'victims' - it's their responsibility to face up to the problem and not expect society to pander to their inability to be unable to eat just enough for their lifestyle.

- Lilly, London

Obesity is a lifestyle choice - if you put less in - you add less on. Just look at supermarket trolleys and how much prepared food is in them - and how much takeaway is eaten.

Real food doesn't need packaging - it needs a pan and water - and portion control. People were fitter 50 years ago before cars made fat an option.

WE are all overweight in terms of optimal size but some will die very young as heart and hips cannot take the strain.

- Tomtom, Leeds UK

It doesn't take very much brain to work out that the more calories you take in via food and the fewer calories you use up via exercise, the fatter you will become.

- Warren Alexander, London, UK

I think a big factor in the problem is the wide-held belief (mainly among the overweight) that many of those who are not overweight can eat 'whatever they like' without putting on weight. For women past their very early twenties and men over about thirty, this is, on the whole, a myth. Most people who appear to eat whatever they want fall into two categories. There are those who do have whatever they want, but don't actually eat a huge amount. They just eat the amount they NEED. My father, for example, never holds back from having what he wants to eat. But he very rarely eats between meals, and it would never occur to him to eat half a packet of biscuits, or a whopping chocolate bar, all in one sitting. And then there are those (like me!) who do have a tendency to eat more than we need. In our case, if we look like we don't need to watch what we eat and/or exercise, it's usually because we DO watch what we eat and/or exercise.

- Sez, London

Everyone who pays NHS should get treatment regardless of lifestyle choices.

- Gene, London

Sometimes the truth hurts! I recently saw a middle aged couple in a restaurant consuming vast amounts of food and drink. Both had mobility problems because of their size. The largest one even popped out for a cigarette every 10 minutes. As a fellow diner said when they left - there must be easier ways of committing suicide!

- Michael, London

There is no NHS in the USA. If you are fat then so be it. Go to any Food Mall in Michigan (for example).Have a look around and see the size of some of the diners and their kids.

Obesity and the NHS are the two ends of this problem. Because we are seeking to reduce the costs of the bloated NHS the prime principle of treating disease and relieving pain, as their main function, has been left behind.

- Michael John Murphy, Brightlingsea England

If being overweight is down to genetics surely it would be a recessive gene as it affects the lifespan of the person. Natural selection would dictate that people with these genes would be at a disadvantage to people who are not overweight - survival of the fittest etc. In my professional oppinion it is all down to eating too many pies and not taking resposibility for one's own well being.

- Dan, Manchester

The ignorance of some people astounds me! If you go skiing and break your arm aren't you "making and lifestyle choice", what about the risk of child birth - isn't that a lifestyle choice as well? What are the limits to precluding people from healthcare treatment?

Obesity isn't a lifestyle choice, I suggest that many people suffering from obesity haven't made a conscious decision and more importantly there are many factors for obeisity and its only the totally ignorant that suggest that its just a matter of greed.

- Chris, London

Kathleen, as you come from a country where obesity will become, very shortly, the number one preventable killer disease are you honestly saying that your founding fathers and all subsequent immigrants were fatties? Or has the fact that a huge proportion of your citizens are overweight got to do with the fact they over-indulge in rubbish food.

- Mark, South-East London

Dr. Meldrum, as a doctor, a person trained in science, appears to offer no scientific basis for his view. I can't help but think of other health problems that were once blamed on a weakness on the part of the patient. It was only in the early 1990's that it was discovered that the majority of ulcers were caused by a bacterial infection rather than the patients over-fondness for spicy foods and emotional habit of worrying too much. In regard to weight, it well known that adopted children are most likely to resemble their birth parents in weight rather than their adopted family. If one is to say that it is because they received a greedy gene from their birth parents couldn't we just as easily say that they received an over-weight gene from their birth parents?

- Kathleen, Connecticut, USA

Dr. Meldrum isn't into "fancy labels", so what would he call it when fat people pay national insurance but are then refused treatment because they make different lifestyle choices to him?

- Andy, London

I totally agree with the Dr. Why should lazy greedy fat people weigh us all down? There is a health service to encourage healthiness not to make life easier for people who abuse their bodies. Time for people to respect the system.

- Ollie, London

I agree totally with what he has to say. Finally someone has the courage and stand up to the 'nanny state' and asking for people to take responsibility for their own actions. Too many people are looking for someone to blame for their own faults.

- Bruce Liddle, Dundee, Scotland

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