Its about time somebody did this kind of cutting edge analysis.

Monash University public health expert Dr Nathan Grills says Santa Claus promotes obesity, speeding, drink-driving | Herald Sun

WITH his portly belly and a fondness for a brandy-fuelled spin on the sleigh, Santa Claus is hardly the picture of health or safety.

Now his wild ways are catching up with him, with calls for a radical overhaul of his bad boy image. A study by Monash University public health expert Dr Nathan Grills found Santa could be promoting obesity, speeding and drink-driving, and damaging millions of lives.

Is Santa a bad role model or is this guy a grinch? Join the debate in the comments below

The childhood legend should be used to promote a healthy lifestyle, the study, published in the British Medical Journal, found.

It suggested Santa slim down by ditching the cookies, mince pies and milk, and instead snacking on his reindeers' carrots and celery sticks. Santa also should trade in the sleigh for a bike or throw his sack over his shoulder and hit the global road on foot.

And the brandy should definitely be banished, because of its pound-piling potential.

It could also put Santa at risk of drink-driving, given that he visits billions of houses and takes a tipple at each.

His reckless behaviour could also encourage extreme sports such as roof surfing and chimney jumping - not to mention speeding.

At the very least he should buckle up or don a helmet, the study says.

Santa also has the potential to spread infectious diseases, the review warns. If he sneezes or coughs around 10 times a day, all the children who sit on his lap may end up with swine flu.

Dr Grills denied he was a "public health scrooge".

"I wouldn't go as far as saying that Santa causes obesity - it's more about raising wider issues around advertising and public health," he said.

"Christmas is about a loving and giving. I would like to see us reclaim that part of Santa, not seeing him used as a pawn in a marketing campaign."

Food & Nutrition Australia dietitian Sharon Natoli agreed that pictures of Santa drinking and smoking were inappropriate. But she added: "I think it's going a bit far to suggest Santa slim down as he is an international icon rather than a role model."

She said a healthy lifestyle was more important in terms of longevity than simply being slim.

Dr Grills wants a public debate on whether Santa's image should be used to sell products such as alcohol and unhealthy foods.

A study of American school kids shows Santa Claus is the only fictional character more highly recognised than Ronald McDonald.

Given Santa's popularity Dr Grills argues that "Santa only needs to affect health by 0.1 per cent to damage millions of lives".

Nutritionist Zoe Bingley-Pullin said Santa Claus should be a protected brand not used to promote unhealthy food and alcohol.

But she warned against becoming the fun police and picking on every person who didn't fit a certain image.

Please tell me this is a joke, because it is quite funny

Originally Posted by Jody

Please tell me this is a joke, because it is quite funny

It originally appeared in the British Medical Journal

Santa Claus: a public health pariah? -- Grills and Halyday 339: b5261 -- BMJ

but you got to figure it is tongue in cheek but perhaps some newspapers didnt get it?

Originally Posted by wobbler

Anyone wanna have a guess at number 1?

George Bush?

Originally Posted by wobbler

Very close, actually.

Bart Simpson?

We had a santa look-a-like come into one of the schools i work at yesterday. Lets just say that he didn't let the worry of obesity get in his way of looking like santa...

Charlie (the little chef logo) was made thinner a while back.

I don't know much about your H&S, but this could be stretched to farce with a little effort. What about flight safety? Rooftop safety, chimney safety, fire safety....? What about 'high viz'. That pathetic little red nose ain't going to fit the bill. What is the efficacy of a red light for seeing in the fog as well? That's it's intended use. Plus the wanker leaves it on all the time. One of your pet peeves, people using their fog lights when there is no fog.

How much does that bag of toys weigh? Doesn't H&S have something to say about lifting heavy objects and how heavy an object a person is allowed to lift unassisted?

Does Santa carry a 'pooper scooper' to clean up after his reindeer if they shit on someones roof, or worse?

The more I think about it this guy is a disaster waiting to happen. He sets an example of everything you shouldn't do.

This guy is one rebellious, inconsiderate, drunken wanker and has no place being around our children. He should be jailed.

Or else it's all magical delight, in which case that's OK then.