An inspiring author wrote an article on child obesity, and whither the parents be held accountable. I felt that they should, but too late my comment answered, too late to add an addendum. If the children are obese, what do the parents look like?

Obesity is an international problem, and diet programs, cashing in. But is it fair to expect children to eat different food to their parents, the parents imparting advice on weight when they are twenty percent over? The proverbial “pot calling the kettle black” comes to mind. Should these parents not be encouraging their children by being an example?

Obese children more than often have obese parents, if this is not the case, then the child needs to see a Doctor, there's an underlying problem.

Now I don't want to advocate what others must do, specially when slightly over weight myself. What I have noticed in my case, weight has gone hand in hand with income. Before semi-retirement when fully employed my weight climbed, since the change, my weight has dropped. The fact that my income has dropped as well as weight tells me they're related. More money, too lazy to make food, purchase what you feel like. Less money, have to make food and do with less, weight drop.

Shopping now being a joint venture with the wife, hilarious, I pack in she packs out. All the things I yearn for, no longer affordable on the budget we have set. Bargains, top of the list, but only if healthy food, sweets and cakes never seem to make it into the basket. Where she pushed the big trolley when shopping, now it's a double level basket with only enough room for a few items.

Have we changed our diet? No, but she now only cooks enough for two plates, no more second helpings, no more over eating, no need to loosen the belt after a meal. We both seem healthier for it, and I, certainly more energetic, even to feeling younger. She now makes the biscuits we always bought, “much cheaper” I'm told, only difference, when we opened a bought packet, we finished it. Now I get given a few on a plate with no extras. The changes obvious, I no longer stuff myself with the niceties of life, so I lose weight.

The solution to over weight children, cut the income of the parents, repossess their credit cards, tax them heavier than others. Do what ever necessary to stop them spending on the wrong things. I know this will bring comment that they have earned it, they can spend it, I agree, but when they are dead, the poor children have to sit with their own health problems that they can only blame on the parents, and no one else.

When little girls ask their mothers why they can't model, do they tell them “because we fed you incorrectly”? Little boys unable to play sport because they are over weight “sorry our fault”?

Children of the correct weight, have a healthier body, sharper mind and spirit. Adults they same goes for you.