Scrubbing up: Your comments

Read more of your comments on this week's scrubbing up article by Dr Alan Maryon Davis.

We don't need nannying!! If the government stopped intruding in our personal lives, they might find the time and resources to solve some real problems.
MN, Hertfordshire

The anti-smoking moves were correct in that passive smoking kills HOWEVER this does not give the government the right to start dictating to people how to live their lives. We have a government that would turn this country into a totalitarian state given half a chance and any positive words from an 'expert' will be used as justification to social engineer this country into a worse nightmare than they have already inflicted on us.
Geo, Glasgow

I couldn't agree more, especially about junk food advertising to children. As parents it is a constant struggle to ensure that our children eat healthily and acquire long-term healthy food habits. Shopping for them and ourselves is made even harder by the inadequate food labelling you also mention. Healthy eating for children is also a matter of parents setting a good example, but how can parents do that when so often we are not sure what goes into the food we buy for the family?
Sarah Gellner, London

Laws making mandatory requirements for seatbelts and crash helmets are the same as the smoking in public places ban. They are there to prevent one person's actions from affecting OTHER people. When it comes to personal health, if one person eats to excess, it's not going to affect anyone else. So no, the state should not regulate personal health, unless it is somehow causing a danger to others.
Alex, Dorset

I actively inform myself of the best and healthiest way to live and try my best to follow the recommendations. But it is evident in the UK (when one looks at the number of smokers, obese people, people who regularly drink to excess and people who only eat junk food) that very few people do the same. In my opinion, if the populace cannot think for themselves, it is the duty of the government to do research, decide on a healthy living strategy and do their best to broadcast this and influence people. Who else is going to do it?
Mrs Schmid, Munich, Germany

I agree that the government should encourage people to live healthier lifestyles, but I do not agree with Dr Maryon Davis on the need for more legislation. I enjoy the occasional pint and pizza. Why should I be taxed to the hilt because some people haven't educated themselves to be aware of the risks associated with excessive consumption. Why do we always have to legislate for the lowest common denominator?
JC, Bournemouth

I would like to see people in the West appreciating they have food and not giving children lifelong complexes concerning food. Making them feel that appearance is more important than substance. That bulimia and being underweight is the healthy way to go. I'm much more concerned at alcohol being acceptable and it's known direct risks socially and health wise. No one is going to get out of their heads eating a burger then run someone down with their car like a drunk person.
Mrs Upton, Sutton, Surrey

Simple really - if the public expect the government to pick up the tab when we get ill (NHS), then surely the government should be able to influence public health.
Tom Coward, Maidenhead

I'm with you Doc. Until I get round to getting a PhD in Chemistry or a degree in medicine I appreciate it when those who have knowledge of these subjects share it with me.
S Evans, Woodbridge, Suffolk

Instead of the government telling me how to live I would rather they run the economy competently. No income, no heating, no pensions, no savings; but at least we know how many calories are in a burger. If there is one thing New Labour loves it's controlling every aspect of every individual's life.
Ian Stewart, London

Standardising the way nutrition labels communicate information is a good idea that helps the public make informed choices on what is best for them, but passing legislation regulating prices in order to force behaviours on people that are unnatural to them them is going too far. Hiking taxes on alcohol because it can be bad for you would be the same as raising tax and not permitting sales on candy bars because they can make you too fat. It is not healthy to raise a public that is forced to rely on the good judgement of a government body. It is the same as raising children in a candy-free environment, despite the best wishes of the parents they most often are the ones who end up eating candy until they are sick when their parents aren't around, simply because they can. It creates a culture of 'what can we get away with' as opposed to 'what is right for me.'
Erin, Oxford

I am in my fifties and the nutritional, and cooking information I received at school, together with the safety courses at the workplace have stood me in good stead throughout my life. Common sense should prevail in this. Although children and young adults do not seem to have had the same information from school as I did, a common sense approach should be allowed. The UK is the country with the most regulated personal lifestyles in the world and it hasn't done much good compared to other countries. All the tough health and safety laws have taken the risk out of childhood, and therefore the means of learning a safe and wholesome life. Children must be allowed to experiment and play.
Jean Horsley, Cheadle

I am normally inclined against government intrusion into people's lives, but given that so many people are irresponsible and frankly stupid, I see no alternative to preserve some sense of civilisation.
Edward, London

Even after reading books on nutrition I still find it difficult to work out what's healthy and what's not because the ingredients lists are so complicated. So, labels - yes. Easy-to-understand information that blatantly says if something is healthy or not - yes. But banning stuff? No. If we want to be unhealthy, that's our right. Laws should protect us from other people, not from ourselves.
A, Grimsby

Some people like to be told how they should live their lives and other believe that they should have the freedom to choose how they live their lives. I prefer the latter.
Chas, Suffolk

I am a nutritionist, and the rise in obesity in the UK is linked to causing the increase in type II diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Ideally people need to be encouraged to stop buying high fat and high sugar foods - they are often a very cheap and easy way to feed a family, but they are slowly killing our nation. If the government could place a tax on junk food and spend that on subsidising fruit and vegetables or other health promotion campaigns that may help improve awareness, but I think this drastic step, might be a step to far towards the 'Nanny state' in the public's eyes. However, time is ticking, and our nation isn't getting thinner.
Charlie, Nottingham

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version