Oooh this has got a few hackles up already; I can feel it! Before you start slating me and sending me hate messages let me draw you to the fact I mention often.

876,000 obesity related hospital admissions last year.

876,000 is a figure that laughs in the face of COVID 19 as a burden on the NHS.

The reason we are in lockdown is so we don’t overwhelm the NHS with an influx of COVID cases and take up all the hospital beds. The NHS wouldn’t cope and doctors would be forced to choose who lives and who dies.

The question then is should we be all working together to make sure there are plenty of beds available? Yes we should. We are attempting to do that by limiting the spread of the virus and the approach the glorious leaders of the world have chosen is to lock us up and prevent us from going outside of the home; from playing sport, from sending our kids to school, from going to the pub, theatre, cinema, shopping centre and all manner of other social events.

This approach however, does very little to combat the problem at source. It does nothing to stop 876,000 unnecessary hospital admissions each year which if they weren’t on the scene, we wouldn’t have a problem with bed shortages. 876,000 admissions virtually all through lifestyle choices.

During this last year of confinement to our homes, we have in the majority expended less energy and consumed more. The stats aren’t out yet but I am a little heavier than normal, I’ve seen it in several of my clients and other people I’ve not seen have told me they have gained weight too. The initial lockdown of last spring was different in that back then the weather was great and we were all excited about getting fit. Eleven months on in a freezing dark winter with no hope of an end date, that isn’t the same story.

In times of economic crisis, the last thing people will give up are their vices.

I am really fortunate in that I have TWO gyms. Exercise and varying exercise routines are not a problem for me. I perform a different session every time I work out and what I do is exciting. It’s the same for my clients – a different session every time, it’s one of the reasons working with me appeals to many.

I have two gyms and combined I use them at least five times every week. I’m super fit yet I’m still a little heavier than normal at this time of year. The reason is twofold: I’m not passing people dumbbells, kettlebells and barbells on a daily basis and I’m eating more junk because I’m p*ssed off and have little to look forward to. That’s me! That’s me who has two gyms which are used regularly, me who is upbeat, in good health and has a really good outlook on life. By all accounts I’m really happy!

Many are not happy and many are eating, drinking and smoking more because that is ALL they have got right now and this is why the government is not saying a word to the contrary about it.

Stay at home.
Watch Netflix.
Just Eat.
Dumb yourself down.

I liken it to giving lobotomies. Many of us are itching to get out and be creative but Nurse Ratched (Boris Johnson) ain’t allowing it!

Many of our children and the fit, healthy and active amongst us are sliding into a bit of a pickle. We’re a little less happy, a little more angry and we aren’t being offered anything to ease our frustrations. No end date!

The obese on the other hand, apart from where they do their eating have had little restriction and little pressure put on them. Eating is a major part of an obese person’s life and in the main it is done secretly, at home, in private either alone or with a friend or family member who does the same. There has been no restriction on this and no directive from up top for them to do anything different. So long as you stay at home you can do as you please.

Obesity is getting worse which means the demand for hospital beds is increasing. We are also in an economic mess with people earning less money because they are being prevented from earning. My point earlier has been studied – In times of economic crisis, the last thing people will give up are their vices. So, we are at home, we are earning less and we have nothing to do. We and in particular the obese, are eating more. This is putting greater strain on the NHS.

What is terrifying is that children will be putting on weight too and this is unacceptable. If a kid puts on weight, a kid loses confidence and with that the journey may possibly start. Less confidence leads to more eating, drinking, becoming a recluse and perhaps suicide. Unacceptable.

So should we not be tackling obesity and how do we do it? The standard reply to this is “More education! We need to educate the obese on what is healthy and what isn’t.”

So Mr Obese Person – what has less calories and is better for you?

1. Carrots
2. A large stuffed crust meat feast from Pizza Hut.

The obese aren’t stupid. Any idiot in general knows what’s good and what isn’t good for you. Education is not enough and it quite clearly has to be legislation.

It is time we stopped pretending that consuming ultra processed poison is simply down to choice. This crap is addictive and it is clear as day to see that. Do you think for one second there is a single fat person out there who is happy with the poor state of health they are in? Do you think there is one that doesn’t know full well they are probably going to die earlier than expected? Of course not. The obese aren’t stupid.

Society and junk food companies put it on the obese that they have a lack of willpower.

The uncomfortable truth is that the criminal drug dealers i.e. Kellogg’s, Nestle, Coca Cola, Cadbury’s and others are allowed to sell their muck without any penalties. They are hand in glove with Big Pharma who give pills to soften the damage caused and the money tree grows and grows.

What do you think would be the case if Tesco were allowed to sell cocaine and heroin? 1, they would definitely sell it and 2, we’d have a nation of drug addicts; obviously! Well that’s what we have now. It’s there for all to see!

What’s my solution?

We start to change. I don’t know how it’s going to be done as there will be a huge overhaul to the economy in doing so but it has to be done. It has to.

We need to change our approach to the obese and cut this crap about fat shaming. Here are people who are clearly in a mess and need help. We have to stop allowing the constant advertising of chocolate around Christmas and Valentine’s Day and Easter. We have to ban advertising of fast food delivery.

The government needs to shift the guilt trip away from non mask wearers and onto those who are taking up the hospital beds, namely eaters, drinkers and smokers. Imagine the radio message:

“Can you honestly look a cashier in the eyes and say your cigarettes are vital? Can you look your kids in the eye and tell them you haven’t exercised today?”

Shift the thinking!

What would be wrong in putting chocolate behind the counter and having to produce evidence that you are not on medication in order to purchase it? The same goes for alcohol.

We could do so much. During COVID times, why not take over Butlin’s holiday camps and send the obese in for three months? All the health conscious (not 6 week beach body) personal trainers could work to help them learn about exercise and nutrition. We could provide counselling. We could hold cooking classes. We could remove access to any cake or crap and reset the body.

None of this would be done in a military style Britain’s Biggest Loser way. It would be done sincerely and with patience.

And at the end of this, if we managed to get thousands of tons off the waistlines of the obese? You know what they would be? Happier and thankful for it!

As I said at the start of my solutions – I have no idea how this is going to be rolled out. It is going to involve an enormous shift in thinking but we all know in our gut that it has to be done. We have to get people healthy and happy and totally free up the NHS.

It is not sending our children into school and to play sport that is the reason for the NHS being overwhelmed. It is the obese and smokers being allowed to run riot without a single onus put on them for their behaviour.

Time to point the finger!

Email: paul@pchf.co.uk