Don't say obese, say fat, urges minister

Published on Wednesday 28 July 2010 17:34

GPs and other health professionals should tell people they are fat rather than obese, a health minister said yesterday.

Anne Milton said the term fat was more likely to motivate people into losing weight, adding it was important people took "personal responsibility" for their lifestyles.

Stressing she was speaking in a personal capacity, she said: "If I look in the mirror and think I am obese I think I am less worried (than] if I think I am fat."

Too many staff working in the NHS were worried about using the term, Ms Milton said, but suggested it could help encourage "personal responsibility".

She added: "At the end of the day you cannot do it for them. People have to have the information."

It follows a move earlier this week by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence which published guidelines on pregnancy, saying NHS staff are dealing with "an epidemic of obesity" among pregnant women.

The government also confirmed yesterday that it is ditching plans for a review of the smoking ban south of the Border, which could have seen it extended to pub doorways and beer gardens.