Posted on 11/06/2007 9:38:32 AM PST by Eric Blair 2084
Santa is being told to shift the pounds before Christmas - because the obese saint is failing to set a "good example" for children.
The traditional children's hero, best known for feasting on mince pies left out on Christmas eve, has always sported a bulging midriff.
But shopping centre bosses are giving the well-wisher his marching orders - to the nearest gym - to tackle the increasing problem of obesity.
The revelation comes after a medical report earlier this month stated that by 2050 more than 50 per cent of Brits will be obese.
Santa has been told he must slim down, or face eviction from shopping centres at Christmas
Bluewater shopping centre in Greenhithe, Kent, has even gone one step further and set-up a Santa boot camp.
Fiona Campbell-Reilly, spokeswoman at the shopping centre, said: "Santa has been around for years, but society has changed and our Santa needs to reflect this.
"Bluewater's Santa Boot Camp is getting Santa in shape and setting a good example to children who idolise him.
"He will still be the same lovable jolly man, but will be fitter and healthier."
Despite Santa burning 600 calories an hour from delivering presents, the problem lies in the tasty mince pies left as a treat.
If he ate every single mince pie left for him by eager children in the UK he would gain an astonishing 721,000 lbs.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, spokesperson from the British Heart Foundation, said: "The bootcamp would encourage people to get a bit more active - it is a great idea.
"If you are budding santa or a hopeful elf, then we should all be taking steps to being fit and healthier at Christmas.
"Half an hour of exercise, three days a week could make your heart healthier. I think that like most of us, santa could be doing more to make himself that little bit fitter.
"He can have a pie every so often but try to squeeze in a few carrots as well."
Others are grabbing the story too:
http://cbs2.com/kent_blog/local_blogentry_310104649.html
In Time for the Holidays: Naughty Santa!
Nov 6, 2007 7:45 am
Coming out of the first weekend of November, if the shopping mall can play Christmas Carols already, it’s not too soon to talk about Santa. And it’s never too soon to be politically correct, Here goes.
Santa Claus has been naughty, and needs to shape-up. Literally. Shopping malls in Great Britain — and remember; everything there, comes here: think worcester sauce and Posh Spice— shopping malls there are telling their Santas to be better role models, by losing weight. One mall says it’s ‘cuz kids idolize Santa. Well; kids would idolize a grey whale, if it brought them presents: it doesn’t mean they want to be one. What kid ever said “I want to be Santa”?
News flash: you can have skinny, or you can have Santa: but you can’t have a skinny Santa. Send your kids, to sit on the lap of an *un-jolly old elf, whom they may nor may not conclude is strung out on goof balls. And that’s your new and improved role model? Happy holidays!
Sure is. And it makes you wonder what the designers of this new policy must have been thinking as children. “Oh if I could only grow up to be as fat as jolly old Santa.”
I was thinking, he sure seems jolly. The other kids seem happy to see him. Now, what do I want for Christmas?
LOL, and the leftists think we’re anal...
What movie was that? I was watching TV with my 6 year old son on Saturday and that movie came on. He made me keep it on the channel because he saw Santa.
Then Santa was drinking bourbon and getting it on with the barmaid. I had to wrestle my son for the remote control to change the channel.
I actually like the Madonna “Santa Baby” Christmas song, it’s her only good song.
Bad Santa - Get the unrated version ;)
Yeah but my song went better with post 17 :)
There’s another version?
True!
But for every 2,000 santas losing that much fat, it will result in another 4 tons of carbon dioxide for every pound lost ending up in the atmosphere - exacerbating global warming.
Right now, every fat person represents sequestered carbon; they should sell their excess fat as carbon credits.
You know, some of you guys keep giving the progressives ideas, thinking that its funny. They have no sense of humor. If it hasn't happened already, look for a gay Santa mandatory indoctrination video at a public school near you soon.
People obsessed with “sending a message” sometimes don’t realize that the language they do it in can carry more than one meaning. Here we have an exhortation to the kiddies to live a healthier life - I’m fine with that - that carries along with it the implication that overweight people are to be marginalized, hidden, improved for their own good. For some that may even be the intended message as well, but I don’t think that’s what Christmas is all about.
Possess has no excess of esses, esses and asses; embarresses and harasses; less is never enough.
If you got the implied message, than you are very perceptive. They got the smokers that way, why not the obese?
Hey Santa! Didja call Jenny yet?
But I thought Santa only comes once a year, and that was down the chimney.
Kirstie Alley is still fat. Looked good in that Star Trek movie but over the years it has been a very unflattering spiral into obesity.
Everyday, I am reminded of the underground leader in “Demolition Man”, who wants a steak, a drink and a smoke, and for do-gooding busy bodies to get the Hell away from him.
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