Thank you for the lecture, Dr Johnson. Now please move on from dispensing the medical advice you are not qualified to give, and get back to running the health....oh, hold on a minute...

Abe Lambert, Telford,

Well, in Orwell's '1984' - the Labour party Bible- everyone had to parade in front of their (two-way) TV set each morning to participate- in compulsory communal exercise. As Mr Johnson is a big supporter of mindnumbing State control it wouldn't surprise me if that would be the next " 'elf 'n' safety " gimmick.

Doug, Glasgow,

Obesity is caused by the kind of food that we eat, not the amount of it or lack of exercise. I know this because my own flab has drastically reduced since I cut out biscuits, cakes, sweets, chocolate, crisps, ice cream, red meat and dairy foods and, to a large extent, pre-packaged processed foods. The strange thing is I no longer even want to eat those things - fatty foods are an addiction, Fat has an unpleasant taste in your mouth when you don't usually eat it.. I eat homemade bread (wholemeal) and have a generally low fat diet., feel great and am constantly getting thinner, despite the fact that I don't generally feel hungry and consume about 9 units of alcohol per day.

Ken Otway, Kingston on Thames, Surrey

In November of 2006 Dr. Sinclair of Harvard studied obese mice. He gave one group biotivia transmax resveratrol extract supplement, a lab grade version of a compound found in red wine, and the other a placebo. The group receiving resveratrol lived 31% longer and did not contract the normal diseases of aging such as diabetes, tumors, and cardiac diseases. Their endurance and energy levels also improved markedly. Obesity is not the problem per se. It is the health adverse consequences such as diabetes that are so costly. This study has huge implications for treatment of obesity in humans and for lowering the human, social and health care cost of obesity. We need to look at more innovative approaches to this problem as the tired old remedies simply waste time and money.

Howard Jennings, Zurich, Switzerland

You cannot beat obesity, Mr Johnson, you do not have the tools!
Food guides and diets have advanced obesity, they have to be abandoned, having created abject misery for a trusting public.
Only people can reverse the obesity epidemic given a realistic approach to food. Teach Food Basics! The old way!
How irresponsible can government be? Health Canada assembled 7000 dedicated but confused citizens for a 4 year advisory to concoct another version of an inane Rainbow Food Guide. The exercise is to be repeated- (only governments can repeat open failure) by asking for more input from a confused and worried population.
My credentials, for what they are worth--- Turned 83 Jan. 7th! I am not healthy (by todays rating) but my massive medial test is 100% NORMAL----Hart Oldenburg--------

Hart Oldenburg, Winnipeg, Canada

Globalisty, it's coming & will be here to stay.
for as many fighting for common sense, moderation, self-control & willpower,
there are many a corporation/organisation that wants the gluttony to continue.
when will peoples health become more important than profit?

suzyn, clacton, essex UK

Simply sell your current fridge, and buy the smallest model you can get. Before 1955 few families had fridges, there was a lot less moaning about being overweight. Just have a carefullook at a crowd scene in an early Black and White film.

David Vinter, Louth, Lincs., UK.

Well worth thinking about it. Touches on some underlying science. It isn't simple.

Twenty or thirty years ago we observed that when the economy got worse, there were more very fat people, poorly dressed people to be seen.

See the current - 17/01/08 - New Scientist - for article on compellingly unhealthy effect of insulin levels from refined carbohydrates. Apparently the derided Atkins high-protein diet does make sense.

Food manufacture/processing in recent decades looks like a dreadful experiment with public health. Needs legislation as draconian as the laws against adulterating bread in earlier history.

As well as more - but not too much - exercise, people need enough sleep.

Even making some sort of Governmental effort might just help through 'Hawthorn effect' - just being the object of attention helps.

Peter Thomas, Godalming,

Overweight? Solution is simply - don't eat so much and get up and walk.

Linda, New York City, USA

Just one quick idea: run ticker tape messages extolling healthy living under television adverts for sofas that infest airtime, (again following the French), which will be sure quicker that waiting for the government to get of its backside to "change the fabric of urban and rural spaces, community parks" blah blah, ad nauseum

Give us a break please

Terry hawker, L'Absie, France

"With concerted action across government ..."

That is as far as you and your friends can ever think. Big State, concerted action, lots of wasted money. STOP interfering with our daily lives. LEAVE US ALONE.

Oh, and prepare to lose the next election. Good riddance.

S Williams, London,

What I find interesting is the way all forms of discrimination have been legislated against except for discriminating against people because of body size. Nobody wants to be called the "F" (fat) word, yet overweight and obese people constantly report being abused by complete strangers because of their body size. Overweight and obesity is in increasing problem in all affluent, western societies. From a health point of view this is alarming both for the individuals concerned and the society as a whole, but care needs to be taken in how it is approached. Studies are already showing that young people rate body image as their number one concern. In trying to solve one problem, could we be creating another?

Lulu, Melbourne, Australia

According to a recent study at the University of California at San Diego reported in the following: ScienceDaily, Retrieved January 20, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2007/11/071106133106.htm, type II diabetes is not directly related to obesity. Therefore, the cost model provided in the Foresight study may have to be revised with respect to it's projections concerning diabetes.

Joe Bradley, East Fallowfield, USA/PA

Nothing to do with a poverty stricken NHS and an horrendously over-taxed electorate which can't afford any more money to keep it afloat then? Heard it all before. Anyway, most of the problem is comfort eating because of the miserable, self-seeking, isolated lives your citizens live Alan..... a product of society under Labour.

Judy , Liverpool, england

Obesity is not an "epidemic". The Black Death was an epidemic. Obesity is a self-inflicted condition, a problem known only in rich western societies. I know from personal experience that the best and only sure-fire way to beat obesity is to cease eating; two weeks on a liquid diet in hospital following major bowel surgery saw me shed 3 stone, two of which I have never regained.

Robert Dewar, High Wycombe,