Being 50 I think I am entitled to spread out a bit in my middle age, but the eminently sensible Dr Rosemary Leonard GP, long time resident medical expert on BBC Breakfast this morning confirmed what I've always suspected though never fully acknowledged to myself. I am overweight. I may well be 6' 2" in my socks and scrawny with it but in the middle there lurks a stomach. I've always hidden behind the old method of measuring obesity, the good old BMI or Body Mass Index, which is basically a weight divided by height calculation. As I'm not an athlete, body builder, pregnant woman, elderly (yet), or under 5" tall I always figured it's ok for me. Just checked it again and my BMI is within the "healthy weight range". Woohoo!
The redoubtable Dr Rosemary dashed this delusion this morning when she imparted her wisdom to the nation. Apparently one has to measure one's waist at belly button level, and, no matter what your height, if it is over 37 inches (your waist, not your height!) you are overweight, and, in her words "it certainly shouldn't be over 40 inches" which implies this is the obesity cut off limit, which thankfully I do not reach - just!
I think I'll cut out more biscuits and crisps and walk faster to work - I know, that ain't going to make much of a difference, but I'm NOT going to give up beer. No way Jose! Perhaps I may join the Ramblers Association or take up cycling....hmmm....
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When I was a nipper I walked the mile or so to school and back every day from about age 8. If any parents read this can they please explain to me why it is the usual practice for Thomas and Sara to be driven to school no matter how short the distance? Walking to work every day, which takes me past a school, I encounter many parents and kids on the dreaded school run. There is one particular example that I cannot fathom, and I'll bet she is not the only parent who does this.
I walk past the house of a rather, no, very large woman who by the look of her drives absolutely everywhere. She drives her 10 year old to junior school, which is no more than 10 minutes walk (ok 20 minutes at school kids dawdle pace) from her front door and said walk would not involve the crossing of any major roads. Does she want her kid to end up as fat as her? In fact it would do mum good to walk her kid to school, but mum has probably lost the use of her legs due to inactivity. It's no wonder you hear all these stories about overweight kiddies being sent to boot camps to exercise the fat off.
It's not just parents who drive their kids to school either. There's another woman who lives less than 100 yards from the school gates, which are out of sight of her house as the school is round a corner. She walks her two kids, the oldest of which must be in his last year, all the way to the school gates! If I was the little lad I'd die of embarrassment. Again there's no major roads to cross, and anyway the oldest is old enough to take the responsibility. I can only put it down to rampant paranoia, a self-perpetuating disease amongst modern parents if you ask me.
Make mine a double cheeseburger with extra fries and a gallon of Coca Cola please....
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The contrast between Eastenders and Corry was highlighted again last night with the death of Billie Jackson (a boy, despite the ridiculous spelling). Both soaps currently have (or had) characters who have recently joined the Army. B and I wondered which would be the first to come home injured or in a box.
Gary in Corry who has a disabled girlfriend will inevitably come home crippled in some way after heroics in Afghanistan, only to find redemption through the support of his girlfriend. A morally uplifting tale. I could be wrong with this scenario, but I doubt it.
Billie on the other hand died after a binge drinking session at his own birthday party. Knowing the slimepit that is Eastenders, we should have seen it coming. No heroics for Billie, he just chokes on his own vomit, a fittingly Eastenders demise.
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