Fat is the new ...

... abuse.

Gone are the days when chubby children were patted on the head and everyone said what healthy rosy-cheeked cherubs they are.

Now anyone looking like this would bring in the social workers.

The Local Government Association (LGA) questioned whether parental neglect should include child obesity, in the same way as under-nourishment.

Is being overweight really the equivalent of starvation? Is the fat person on the beach at the same health risk as the emaciated figure behind the wire of a prison camp? Have they ever heard of the concept of a moral panic?

Recently, we have had obesity called a worse threat than global warming and terrorism. I suppose it is a bit of an advance that this latest report just says that us fatties are too expensive.