Santa's love of mince pies promotes an unhealthy lifestyle
By Sanjay Tanday, 17 December 2009
The image of Santa Claus snacking on mince pies and riding on a sleigh promotes obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle, a public health expert has warned.
Dr Nathan Grills writes in the Christmas issue of BMJ that Santa should slim down (Photograph: SPL)
Writing in the Christmas issue of the BMJ Dr Nathan Grills, from Monash University in Australia, says that Santa should swap his reindeer for a bike or walk and ditch the mince pies in favour of fresh vegetables.
After conducting a review of literature and web-based material to assess Santa's potential negative impact on public health, Dr Grills found that Santa encourages not only unhealthy foods but also promotes drink driving.
The tradition of leaving Santa Claus a brandy to wish him well on his travel, with a few billion houses to visit Santa would soon be over the limit, says Dr Grills.
While more research is needed before calling for authorities to regulate Santa's activities, Grills proposes a new image for Santa — a slimmed down version on a treadmill.
Further Reading
Additional Information
Latest jobs Jobs web feed
- Full time GP partner - Isle of Man Laxey and Village Walk Health Centres Competitive, Isle of Man
- Salaried GP Dr K.T. Tattum FRCGP Competitive, Stockton Brook, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
- General Practitioner x 2 for MOD, RAF Leuchars, Fife MMP Competitive hourly rates offered, East Coast of Scotland
- General Practitioner for Gamecock Barracks, Nuneaton MMP Competitive hourly rates, West Midlands
- GP for MOD, RAF Waddington, Lincs MMP Competitive hourly rates offered, Lincoln
- Locum GP for central east London Surgey HealthCare&Locum Recruitment Ltd Negotiable, Central london
Most read
- NHS reforms: Interactive Health Bill timeline
- Exclusive: 'Stop the mudslinging on pensions' says BMA chairman
- Royal colleges step up Health Bill opposition
- Male GPs more likely to experience burnout than female colleagues
- GPC warns of 'target culture' as GP commissioning framework revealed
- Vaccinate teenagers against meningitis, say DH advisers
Most commented
MIMS Drug Search
Possible searches include drugs (by brand, generic ingredient or drug class), diseases and more.
