Fat Domino

Post-Christmas is the time of year, when people start to worry about their Body Mass Index (BMI), diet and gym membership. We are not born to be fat or to be thin. Irrespective of body weight; status, sex or age, adult humans constantly produce new fat cells. These new fat cells are continously created, to replace those that are brokendown (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106343#1). The number of an individual's fat cells actually remains fairly constant throughout their life. This is the case, whether they diet or are initially fat or thin. The fat cell turnover is, however, faster in individuals with larger BMIs. People on diets do not lose fat cells. They simply become less loaded with lipids. Torsten Bell also suggests that 'bad diets are not just for Christmas, they're for life' (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jan/01/bad-diets-are-not-just-for-christmas-theyre-for-life). Bell notes that 28% of UK folk are currently clinically obese. Sugar consumption in this country actually doubled, when its rationing ended in 1953. People who consumed more sugar as young children, then went on to do this for the rest of their lives. Bell says we need to focus on sugar intake across the year (rather than just at Christmas). He opines sugar intake effects on children's subsequent health, wealth and happiness. A high sugar intake is certainly linked to high incidences of diabetes and arthritis. It also, however, seems to impair educational performance as well as subsequent earning potential. Bell favours extending the scope of the 'sugar tax' (currently limited to soft drinks) to other items. This would not, he feels, be something only a 'nanny state' would consider.