A mighty interesting article, especially:

"Another part of the problem is the way we view the problem – we think of weight as an individually based phenomenon – my weight problem. However, as the negative externalities generated by obesity continue to mount, your weight problem is in fact increasingly my problem too."

I've lost 12kg in 6 months (106 down to 94kg). 12kg to go to ideal weight.

Done this by cutting down regular alcohol. Alcohol being a drug that makes one hungrier as well. Alcohol too often persuades people to eat sweet or salty, fatty foods eg. crisps, chips, pizzas.

So an issue is what food groups are easist or most effective to cut out?

Pete

I'm sorry that I sound superior, but to be truthful I do feel superior. As a 77 year old I maintain a healthy weight by only eating that which is necessary to maintain my weight. I do not have to exercise to shed extra weight because I do not consume those extra calories in the first place. The incentive I have to do this is that I know that I will a longer and healthier life by moderating my food intake. I enjoy good food, but if I occasionally overindulge then I reduce my intake during the next few days. I don't eat morning and afternoon tea, neither do I snack after the evening meal. All this requires a bit of discipline, something which seems to be lacking in today's affluent society.

David

Red wine is my downfall, i haven't touched since xmas, and loseing a regular 500 to 600 / week.
Beer doesn't seem to put weight on me. Now heading for 73 kg. which is right for my height. Started at 78 kg's.

My single best bit of advice is cut out the carbs.

Don't eat bread, except old grain types (spelt) and in very small portions less than twice per week.

Do not eat pasta or rice more than once per week and limit the intake (meal size).

Do not eat processed food (this I define as anything that has more than four ingredients, and if it has a number on the ingredient label don't touch at all).

Eat as much red meat, fruits, vegetables and nuts as you like.

In terms of dairy, I do not drink milk/most milk products and only have small amounts of cheese very occasionally. I do however eat full fat butter, its natural and our bodies need the natural fats, not the chemistry set you get with margarine and all the other crap you find on a supermarket dairy shelf. Natural yoghurt is also great, same with natural cream.

Do a little vigorous exercise every day and try not to sit for too long.

Read if you have to, use a computer in a limited manner and stay away from the TV as long as you can.

If you follow most of these basic steps you will not only lose a huge amount of weight, you will feel great, your energy levels will remain high and you will have no problem with guilt in relation to future generations.

Unfortunately you have to still pay the increasing tax's our governments levy to deal with our ever-growing health (oxymoron) care system to deal with the lazy and undisciplined (it's that simple) people we all have to support.

But Geoff o P

"Eat as much red meat...as you like"

Red Meat! Eeeek!

My GP insists red meat in quantity is B A D on account of s--tloads (well lots :) of cholesterol. What is to be done?

Planta

This is a fascinatingly difficult issue.

There is no general solution, that we can apply, because the only people who can address the problem are the fat people themselves.

And they are not inclined to do it, for exactly the same reasons they became fat in the first place.

Governments can't solve the problem either by taxing their calorie intake, without extending the nanny state into areas that deny personal freedom.

The only effective way to return to normality - a state that I can accurately define as that in which everyone can fit comfortably into their economy class seats, instead of spilling over into my space - is to turn all fatties into social pariahs.

We seem to be making headway in this with smoking, which is also "preventable". Let's give it a shot with the fatties too.

First up, let's make them take their morning doughnuts out of the office and onto the street. Then we should make all public areas "no eating" zones, so that they are forced to take their blobby fat bodies into their own home in order to indulge their filthy eating habits. And whenever we see anyone eating in public, we screw up our faces in simulated pain, and tell them they are disgusting, and are setting a terrible example to the kiddies.

Could work.