Santa is ‘bad role model’
Father Christmas is a bad role model, encouraging obesity, drink-driving and risk-taking, according to a top doctor.
Public health expert Dr Nathan Grills says Santa is overweight, and blames the mince pies and alcohol left out for him by families across the world.
He says Father Christmas must be over the limit while driving his sleigh, after all those beers, brandies and sherries - and he doesn’t even wear a seatbelt.
Dr Grills was assessing the negative impact of Santa’s image on public health in literature and on the web in lighthearted article in the British Medical Journal.
“To create a supportive environment for Santa’s dieting we should cease the tradition of leaving him cookies, mince pies, and milk, brandy, or sherry,” he said. “This is bad not only for Santa’s waistline but for parental obesity. Santa might also be encouraged to adopt a more active method to deliver toys - swapping his reindeer for a bike or walking or jogging.”
He added: “Other dangerous activities that Santa could be accused of promoting include speeding, disregard for road rules, and extreme sports such as roof surfing and chimney jumping.”
Del.icio.us
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Digg
Comments 16
Mr W
Posted 256 days ago
It seems that Dr Grills may have received more than his fair share of coal over the years!
Realist.
Posted 256 days ago
As if that is funny aswell…
———
POINT!?
———
lily
Posted 256 days ago
Children grow up quickly, Dr Grills butt out and get a life control your own hang-ups and leave tradition alone.
What happened to you as a youngster to be the “Grinch” of Christmas?
Steve
Posted 255 days ago
Sorry…this is old news….Dr Grills has already recanted this drivel…and so he should.
John Mac
Posted 255 days ago
Yes I agree, it is a result of global warming. We should also charge him a “fart tax” on those reindeed as well as a tax for the carbon emmissions from his slay.
I suppose we should do away with Christmas altogether and work on the 25th that would be more Dip, Correct.
Maybe then there would be no more use for this bad role model, but that would hit the profit margin.
Merry Christmas and just remember the Boss is coming soon. Global warming or not.
Willow
Posted 255 days ago
Yeah.. and we should also ban the Easter Bunny for encouraging chocolate. While we’re at it, why don’t we ban Jesus for promoting violence? In fact, I think we should eradicate all cultural traditions and legacy in favour of lettuce and cycling.
Honestly, Santa doesn’t encourage unhealthy eating. He promotes junk food as a treat that children can look forward to at a certain time of the year. It’s up to the parents and the parents alone to ensure that Christmas treats don’t become daily dinners.
Disregarding the road rules, lol. I’ll remember that next time I’m driving through the stars! This is a good one! Hehehe
stella
Posted 255 days ago
Public health expert Dr Nathan Grills needs to get a life and stop using public funding studying santa claus. Stick to real people with real life issues not a fictional character. If anything Dr Nathan Grills is a bad example for NOT having a life. I can’t believe anyone would publish such an statement. Pretty funny yet a sad state of affairs
shiftybill
Posted 255 days ago
this has to be the stupidest thing i have ever read
bev
Posted 255 days ago
lighten up!! xmas is just a bit of fun for the kids!!stop trying to take away the spirit of xmas!! xmas is full of happiness and joy, the idea of santa adds to this!! scrooge!!
James Lewis
Posted 255 days ago
I wish people would get over the fac that Santa has been like this for many years, and that people tend to bring this up every Christmas, if people are going to do something about it(Not that I want them to) should just go ahead and do it…...
mm
Posted 255 days ago
BIGGEST LOAD OF CR@P I HAVE EVER READ HE IS A FICIONAL CHARACTER WHO HAS BROUGHT CHEAR TO BILLION OF KIDS FO A VERY LONG TIME AND THE KIDS DONT EVEN PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE DETAILS THEY JUST LIKE THE STORIES OF SANTA THEY DONT COPY ANY OF IT AND THERE IS NO PROOF WHATSOEVER THAT THEY DO WHOEVER WROTE THE ARTICLE IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE A HEADLINE!!
anne-marie c
Posted 255 days ago
Come on, get real, you must be kidding me, my worry is we have a doctor that went to Uni and is picking on Santa, what kid really analyzes what santa does, what kid associates santa with drink driving, he rides a sleigh up in the sky, I would think kids and their excitment near to christmas about santa is doing more good than bad, we know that laughter and joy is the best medicine for everyone, get real I say to anyone that tries to take Santa aways or change him. Ridicolous!!!!!!!!!
Mav
Posted 255 days ago
Shoot this clown for havin a pop at santa
noddywa
Posted 255 days ago
get a grip….
santa has always been a jolly fat santa…
grow up….
BJ
Posted 254 days ago
Would Gandhi have been preferable?
Peter Scargill
Posted 252 days ago
Dr Grills “needs to get out more” !