Obesity is, quite literally, the elephant in the room

It’s the avoidable condition that exacerbates our gloom.

In the UK 26 percent of adults with this condition are afflicted

Due to many different reasons from depression to being addicted.

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Across the world obesity has trebled since 1975

And the subsequent side effects have shortened many lives.

Heart disease, osteoarthritis, cancers (too many to mention)

Diabetes, stroke, sleep apnea, anxiety, hypertension.

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This weighty problem has been failed by governments, despite their healthy talk

Cars and buses are just too easy, another excuse to ride not walk.

Playing fields long built over, replaced with pricy spinning class and gym

Such limitations do not help – they are the antithesis of slim.

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Yet we conveniently ignore the problem for fear of mental shaming

Slander, court case, defamation and all the tools of blaming.

We’ve become too sensitive to comments in a world now so litigious

Criticism and advice repelled; it feels blasphemous, nigh religious.

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Ready made pizzas, takeaways, microwave meals and pies

Biscuits, sweets and fizzy drinks, deep fried chicken and fries.

Sugar, crisps, chocolate bars, processed meat, ice cream

To live in Charlie’s Chocolate Factory, for some, is the ultimate dream.

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Many argue that healthy food costs more, but we need to keep proportion

And seek fruit, vegetables, pulses, too, and of course, a smaller portion.

Because here a conundrum which we all can grapple:

If you can afford a donut, you can afford an apple.

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This heavy curse dominates our health systems way beyond the rest

It strips our resources, causes misery and needs to be addressed.

For some this debilitating condition is a genuine and terrible disease

But for others this is a lifestyle choice that the world urgently needs to appease.