Today a report from the Governments Foresight programme warns about the obesity-caused health crisis facing this country. The evidence is quite alarming:

- According to the International Obesity Taskforce, adult obesity (body mass index > 30) in England has increased threefold between 1980 and morbid obesity (BMI>40) increased threefold too.
- Childhood obesity has also increase the Economic and Social Research Council reports that 10% of six-yearolds are now obese.
- Being overweight is responsible for 90% of type 2 diabetes cases
- Being overweight is responsible for 85% of high blood pressure cases
- Obesity doubles the risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Obesity reduces life expectancy by 13 years.

This is alarming especially if the state (NHS) will pick up the tab for treating the problem some decades in the future. Suffering from being overweight is not exactly making life more pleasant (and I say that as somebody who is overweight). The health side effects are quite terrible.

Yet, I cannot understand why so many British journalists report the problem as somehow inevitable and imply that we as individuals have no sense of responsibility.

Take the BBC headline today "Obesity 'not indiduals fault'" gives the impression that we should not fight the problem as obesity is inevitable. That may not be the message of the article but the headline offers excuses. Similarly the report on the schoolrun "Schoolruns do not cause obesity" is very misleading. Walking for six minutes daily may not be sufficient to change children from being game-playing couch potatoes but the attitude behind the parents dropping the kids is the problem. So many parents drop children in cars because they fear they are not safe walking (despite no evidence of that). As a result children do not go out to play in our parks. 30 years ago public parks were full of children playing games like football and they were exercising and having fun. Today parks are empty apart from dog walkers while the children are safe sitting in front of the telly.

Even the report today I think gives the message that obesity is inevitable and not individual responsibility. This is London says

But modern life - with the easy availability of cheap unhealthy food and families relying on their cars - means it is almost impossible for many to avoid putting on weight.

Indeed, it is becoming inevitable for most because our biological instincts combined with our modern environment mean we are "destined" to pile on the pounds.

So while we have had significant lifestyle changes we are still making choices - wrong choices - as individuals. If I think back 30 years:

- Most people used cars sparingly and two car families were not the norm
- People walked to the shops and to schools
- People used bicycles for short journeys and for recreation
- People knew how to cook with fresh ingredients
- People ate smaller portions
- More people had physical work
- Chidren played outside in streets and parks and thereby exercised

Today think of what has changed:

- Most families have multiple cars (I'm guilty)
- Many people use cars for shopping or taking children to school (I'm guilty on the former but not the latter)
- Many people feel unsafe cycling and children are often forbidden to cycle far (not guilty)
- Many people do not use fresh ingredients and focus on ready meals or takeaway food (not guilty)
- Portions (especially of junk food) have exploded (don't think so)
- Most people have sedentary work (guilty)
- Parents feel safe if their children are playing indoors on a game console, computer or in front of the TV (not guilty)

Of course the Government has a role to play too. Other countries have invested far more in cyclepaths and footpaths - ours appear to be designed by people who never cycle - we can do the same. Schools should teach straightforward healthy cooking. The government should counter the sensational treatment of child crime cases by the media by pointing out that it is safe for children to go out.

Maybe I am a hypocrite writing this as somebody both overweight and with hypertension. However at least I see some responsibility to exercise and eat healthily.