'OBESITY'  is a word that seems to crop up ever more often in the news these days. In these times of recession, you might think that there would be less, rather than more, obesity.

You could be forgiven for beieving that, if people have less money, they will buy less food, and therefore, become less obese. Unfortunately, that is not how it seems to work in the Western world.

Granted, in somewhere like India, where poor people have far less money than any Western pauper, the poor are skinny and malnourished, though not necessarily any healthier for it.        However, in the west, where there is more disposable income, even during a 'credit crunch', people are still malnourished. They may not be skinnny and suffering from dysentery, but they continue to ruin their health by the food, and related lifestyle choices they make.

I see it all the time in my work as a personal trainer and lifestyle consultant. I work in areas of London that are deprived. mainly, they are deprived of the education necessary to keep them fit and healthy. Many of the projects that I work for are funded by the Primary Care Trust. This is a National Health Service initiative set up to combat diseases associated with poor lifestyle choices, such as diabetes and obesity.

To make people responsible for their own health is the ultimate goal. Nevertheless, this is a slow process and one to which many people are resistant.

"Why is this?" do I hear you say? Because people prefer to stay within their own comfort zones, habitually choosing the same unhealthy foods and not taking part in exercise.Responsibility is an onerous burden at the best of times - responsibility for oneself, apparently, is too heavy a burden for the majority of people to assume.

For most people, having a television, socialising, paying the bills and looking after one's family, are responsibilities shouldered without, or almost without, question. Shouldn't the responsibility for one's health and well-being be taken on board in the same way?

We act like children if we don't take responsibility for our own health. Should the health services, as well as providing us with medical help that we cannot provide for ourselves, also wipe our backsides for us?

Should we take responsibility for our own health , as far as we are able?

I welcome your comments and opinions.

Michael Rafferty

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