Like tobacco, all sweets may have to carry a health warning, perhaps "Sucking kills!" But not Mars bars because they are what athletes take to bolster their energy levels, if the steroids aren't working!

Joking aside, apparently obesity in England alone has grown over 400% since the late 1970s. It's interesting that this was the time when flower power had all but blown itself out and free love was no longer on the social agenda.

In fact it was the dawn of Thatcherism (if there was ever such a thing) and the inauguration of the "fat cat" syndrome which clawed its way through commerce and industry and still leave its scratch marks from time to time.

Most of our middle aged population has too many pounds than it can afford to carry (in more ways than one). So what? An earlier death never did anyone any harm!

But it's the kids we should worry about. Childhood obesity has trebled in just two decades and it's linked to all sorts of nasty problems such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, renal failure and there are many more besides.

So clearly our youngsters are over eating and under exercising. There are far too many video games keeping kids perched on the edge of their beds and not enough incentives to encourage them out into the fresh air. Perhaps Bucks County Council should be thinking of an anti-obesity sports strategy that costs little but accomplishes a lot.

Alternatively there's always sweet rationing! But whatever the solution we must save some youngsters to carry on Bucks' business traditions.

[ENDS]

Andrew Leech, Cross Reference Tel: 01753 884216