We have to start picking on the fatties

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For once, the po-faced brigade can't blame immigrants for Britain's slide. Immigrants did establish curry houses and takeaways; but you can only lead a slob to the kebab shop - you can't make him eat there. Britain is now officially the fattest nation in Europe, while the average Briton drinks the equivalent of 37 bottles of whisky each year.

As Britons are unable to curb their infantile over-indulgence, Le Grand thinks they should forfeit the right to be treated as adults. This week he advocated a system of "liberal paternalism", making people buy permits if they want to smoke, banning salt in processed foods and restricting the sale of alcohol. Sound measures, but I would go further.

For example, a cheap, effective way of keeping children fit and giving them the mettle to resist temptation is enforced exercise. I was a fat kid, but I was made to do cross-country runs at school. My father, an ex-soldier, bullied me into night-time jogs. I malingered, but was forced to finish, and have retained a commitment to exercise ever since. I put on weight a few years ago, but lost it simply by upping my exercise routine.

The overweight are difficult to tax; food has to be cheap to avoid discriminating against the poor. So we must find other ways to reduce their cost to the taxpayer - such as discrimination in employment. Forcing all public sector workers to maintain a sensible weight would be one easily enforceable way to do this. Having been warned and given sufficient time to slim down, they should lose their jobs if they refuse to do so.

In other words, we should start discriminating against fatties. Everyone has the time and money to stay in shape. Many healthy foods such as fruit, lentils and pasta are cheaper than junk alternatives, and walking for part of your journey to work will probably save time.

The overweight, the smokers and the heavy drinkers could all change their ways if they felt like it. It's time to get tough with them before their healthcare bills bankrupt us all.