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Santa told to slim down for Christmas to 'set a good example'
Last updated at 16:37pm on 05.11.07Santa is being told to shift the pounds before Christmas - because the obese saint is failing to set a "good example" for children.
The traditional children's hero, best known for feasting on mince pies left out on Christmas eve, has always sported a bulging midriff.
But shopping centre bosses are giving the well-wisher his marching orders - to the nearest gym - to tackle the increasing problem of obesity.
The revelation comes after a medical report earlier this month stated that by 2050 more than 50 per cent of Brits will be obese.
Santa has been told he must slim down, or face eviction from shopping centres at Christmas
Bluewater shopping centre in Greenhithe, Kent, has even gone one step further and set-up a Santa boot camp.
Fiona Campbell-Reilly, spokeswoman at the shopping centre, said: "Santa has been around for years, but society has changed and our Santa needs to reflect this.
"Bluewater's Santa Boot Camp is getting Santa in shape and setting a good example to children who idolise him.
"He will still be the same lovable jolly man, but will be fitter and healthier."
Despite Santa burning 600 calories an hour from delivering presents, the problem lies in the tasty mince pies left as a treat.
Boot camp: Santa does cardio
If he ate every single mince pie left for him by eager children in the UK he would gain an astonishing 721,000 lbs.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, spokesperson from the British Heart Foundation, said: "The bootcamp would encourage people to get a bit more active - it is a great idea.
"If you are budding santa or a hopeful elf, then we should all be taking steps to being fit and healthier at Christmas.
"Half an hour of exercise, three days a week could make your heart healthier. I think that like most of us, santa could be doing more to make himself that little bit fitter.
"He can have a pie every so often but try to squeeze in a few carrots as well."
Reader views (20)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
Someone has got way too much time on their hands to even have to consider this utterly stupid idea. What part of lovable mythical character does someone not understand? Santa would not be Santa if he were built like Twiggy. I like him just like he is, leave him alone and get a life with real problem to worry about.
- Carl, Winona, TX, USA
Leave Santa the way he is. How can he make a jolly laugh when he is starving to death? He needs all of those calories so he can make the speedy world wide trips to every house. Sorry carrots and lettuce we need to leave for the deer. Set Santa his usual cookies and milk so he might be able to see all the children in the world, not just the ones in his back yard.
- Kathy, Orrum, North Carolina, USA
This is the dumbest thing ... ever! I'm all for being fit and healthy but this is just plain stupid! Excuse me! You know if you want to be an example to your children ... how about not lying to them!
- Julia, Louisville, KY, USA
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