How Fat Kids May Kill Socialized Medicine

Reader Jeffrey Moyer sends along this alarum being sounded by British and Canadian doctors the wave of fatness sweeping the developed world may accomplish something that the American Medical Association and the disastrous attempt by Bill and Hillary Clinton to nationalize health care couldn't do: Kill socialized medicine.

"This is going to be the first generation that's going to have a lower life expectancy than their parents," [one doctor] said. "It's like the plague is in town and no one is interested."

Another doctor who examined the journal report was Dr. Brian McCrindle, a childhood obesity expert and professor of pediatrics with a pediatric hospital in Toronto.

He warned that the looming problem must be addressed.

"The wave of heart disease and stroke could totally swamp the public health care system," he said.

And Dr. McCrindle followed up with visions of the Food Police:

He warned that lawmakers had to take a broader view of the looming problem -- and consider doing things such as banning trans fats and legislating against direct advertising of junk food toward children.

"It's not going to be enough any more just to say to the consumer 'You have to change your behavior,'" he said.

Whole thing--dipped in chocolate and deep-fried--here.

Recipe for deep-fried candy bars, courtesy of Brit "domestic goddess" Nigella Lawson, here. Healthsome alternative: Linda McCartney oatmeal cookies.

Reason's own domestic god, Jacob Sullum, asked whether the size of your butt is the government's business here and I asked when did freedom become just another word for 10 pounds left to lose here.