Joan Burnie, Associate Editor of Scotland's Daily Record , was on Radio 4 Woman's Hour this morning, airing her prejudice and ignorance about obesity.

She was emphatically declaring that 'everybody knows' that they should eat less and exercise more in order not to be obese. She clearly is contemptuous of obese people and blames them for their obesity. She appeared to wish that they would die soon though claimed that she was not serious when she said it.

Centuries ago 'everybody knew' that the world was flat. - It was an assumption made because it seemed obvious. - When the hypothesis was scientifically investigated this assumption was found to be untrue and there can be few people now who still believe in the flat earth theory.

Similarly the theory that people become obese because they eat too much and exercise too little is just an assumption, as is the assumption that if they eat less and exercise more they will lose their excess weight - despite the FACT - the well-known FACT - that diets do not work. There has never been any rigorous testing of the theory. It has always been a mere assumption. - But this mere assumption and the constantly reiterated insulting and harmful advice being given by uninformed bigots like Joan Burnie and the rest of the bullying obesity 'experts' is destroying the lives, health and happiness of many millions of overweight/obese people the world over...)o:

Obesity is NOT caused by overeating and/or inactivity. It is caused by fluid retention, frequently because of taking prescribed medications, especially steroids such as prednisolone, prednisone and HRT, and anti-depressants such as amitriptyline. (When doctors prescribe drugs that cause sodium retention and water retention they should warn the patient not to eat salt, or food containing salt, while taking the medication. When they do not give this warning, the inevitable consequence is considerable weight gain.)

Obesity can be easily reduced by seriously reducing your salt/sodium intake and eating plenty of fruit and fresh vegetables. It is important not to restrict calories. - 'Slimming' or 'dieting' is unnecessary, ineffective and often harmful.

Lose weight, reduce your risk of most cancers, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, vascular dementia, osteopenia, osteoporosis, hypercholesterolaemia, depression, liver and kidney problems, and improve your health in many other ways without drugs or expense by eating less salt! - Try it! - You will feel so much better!

See my website http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/.html (The site does not sell anything and has no banners or sponsors or adverts - just helpful information.)

Read my Mensa article on Obesity and the Salt Connection

Children and Obesity

vulnerable groups

See Sodium in foods and

Associated health conditions and

See FAT RETENTION

advice for pregnant mothers

http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/socio.html - social and economic considerations