The So Called 'Obesity Crisis'

I know I don't post in here normally but I do enjoy a good read in here. It's just that you usually end up posting my views on here (admittedly it is put blunter than I would have done in Scott's case, not criticising, just an observation) and I'm not the sort to just post "Totally agree" in a thread. However this thread has raised some interesting points on which I can contribute.

Something to bear in mind when reading this.

Some of this is based on me, other parts are based on what I have observed in my own village. This is not at all based on any statistics that have been released. Just thought I'd make that clear before anyone queries this.

I've been overweight for some 6 years now. It is difficult for me to lose weight owing to a major operation I had 15 years ago. I have been limited in the sorts of exercise I can do and I do as much as I can. There is a lot I can relate to in what you say about this issue. It certainly wasn't easy doing P.E. as I wasn't comfortable at all talking to the others about the operation, and they wondered why I was doing different activities to them. It was better because where I was before there were more facilities for keeping fit, hence the last six years or so. I am posting this to give you the perspective from someone who is overweight.

On the school run issue, I also agree. Over 10 years ago when I was at school I walked everyday even when it was snowing. It was only when I had an appointment in a neighbouring village and we were pressed for time that I was picked up. It certainly wasn't a routine to be driven to school and this held true for my brother two years later. I live outside a school and have done so for a few years. I have seen an increase in the number of vehicles that clutter up my road. I avoid using the car when the school run is on. One thing that bugs me is that some of the cars are there half an hour or more before the school breaks up for the day and they park on the road outside the school. There is a large car park not far away with conveniently safe footpaths from it to the school. Admittedly they may come from the smaller villages round about but that car park is usually empty as it is just before the majority of the shops open. I don't think the poor people applies where I am, there is a lot of 4 by 4s when the school run is on. I think that this might be in part due to an increase in the "designer mother" type if I can refer to them as such. Bigger and more impressive cars and the others are "keeping up with the Jones Family".