ohhh I loooove food as well.
I think food is there to be enjoyed.
In moderation. I dont deny myself of what I want.
I am just sensible about it.

An obese person is alot of harm in the long run as it is us tax payers who suffer!  Why should I pay for gastric bands?  Why should the NHS treat people who have gotten ill through their own gain? i.e Obesity, Alcoholism?   It might be OK for some of you to be alcoholic and obese but it isnt OK by me.  Sorry if this offends..  both are by self doing!  Thanks to the one person who thought people were over sensitive - I agree.   Some of you may think it OK to see fat kids wobbling along by their fat perents side but to me this is wrong!  Bring in the system they have in the US where you pay for your health care!  I would rather see money spent on cancer research than an chair for fat people to get up off the floor.... you do the science..... 

> That not only goes for obese people, smoking, binge drinking etc. I think they should have to pay a small monthly fee. The health system would benefit from it.

There are very few people who do everything possible to ensure they lead a fit & healthy life, so should that mean that people who don't get 30 mins excercise per day should pay a fee or thin people who eat junk food should pay an extra fee, or people who are too careless and have accidents should pay a fee, or people who work so hard they run thierselfs into the ground & get ill should pay a fee?

> Thanks to the one person who thought people were over sensitive - I agree. 

I thought people were being over-sensitive to start with, but I don't now.

This thread has turned into a childish, bitch-fest and a place for people to have a go at fat people, in other words a platform for bullying. Some of the comments made are at best narrow-minded and at worst, very rude and appear to be looking to wind others up or hurt other peoples feelings.

I stupidly thought this was intended as a debate, based on an observation by the OP - how naive was I :( 

FooFoo

There are many, many things which the tax payer would be alarmed at paying for I'm sure.  But that's the system that is in place in the UK, and for one it's why you're able to see a GP at no cost!
I now live in a country where you have to pay for every bit of medical help, even to see a GP, so I don't actually think the NHS system is that bad at all!  Yes, there are bound to be those who flout it, and there are bound to be things within it's system that many people don't agree with, but it is what it is, and unless you leave the country or vote for a political party who want rid of that system, there isn't a great deal to be done about it.  There are a heck of a lot of benefits to the NHS system, and the money doesn't just go on treating obesity, alcoholism and so on.
Singling people out is rather unfair I feel.

Alcoholism is an ILLNESS, if someone is being treated for it, then surely they deserve as much chance to recover as anyone else?  Yes, it's self inflicted, but it IS an illness nontheless.
How do you feel about the fact that the NHS treated my brother for drug abuse for many years, though he worked the whole way through his illness, therefore still contributing his NHS / NI Contributions?  Do you think he should have been left to fester in his own grief and illness and finally, very possibly die?
You see, despite my own sensitivity to this topic, I can still see through other people's arguments objectively.  I think that's a pretty fair outlook to have.

I think as someone else has pointed out, it does seem you have used this topic as a platform to air personal grievances rather to a level that is a wee bit insensitive.
The issues you have spoken of are sensitive to some, I wouldn't say people are being 'over' sensitive though.
Just as you have aired your beliefs, they have aired theirs.
I do agree that there seem to be more obese children around these days, but that is another matter compared to your thoughts in your original post.
Anyway, completely off topic, I'm afraid, sorry all!
As I said, there but for the grace of God go I.

> People who don't look after their health are at risk & are prone to more ailments. Taking up/wasting people's time and money. Which ends up making the health service crappier. That not only goes for obese people, smoking, binge drinking etc. I think they should have to pay a small monthly fee. The health system would benefit from it.

What about people who don't do crosswords everyday to keep their brains active - should they pay more if they get altzheimers?

What about the horse rider who fell off their young horse and broke their hip - should they pay for their hospital stay because it was their own fault?

What about the person that didn't look both ways before crossing the road and got run over - it's their fault they need NHS treatment, should they pay?

What about the person with AIDS, who had only ever slept with one man - her husband. Should she pay for hospital treatment because she didn't use condoms?

What about the woman who needed a mastectomy, breast cancer runs in her family yet her mother still had kids - should the mother pay for all their treatment?

I'm not sure what you do for a living but if I pay more in NI and tax than you can I use up more of the NHS?

The answer to all the above questions is of course NO.

Fat people can always diet if they wish but I fear there is no real cure for narrow minded bigotry, and the later is a far greater threat to our society  :-(

This has nothing to do with fat dogs and has gone far enough