Health minister advocates frank discussion on weight
A patient is more likely to take action over their weight if they are told they are fat rather than obese.That is according to health minister Anne Milton, who suggested that doctors who are frank and tell people they are fat are more likely to be successful in getting them to lose weight.
In an interview with the BBC, Ms Milton said: "If I look in the mirror and think I am obese, I think I am less worried [than] if I think I am fat."
She went on to suggest that patients need to be given the correct information to lose weight, although she did concede that individuals needed to take responsibility for their own health.
Doctors recently called for ministers to put fat taxes on junk food to encourage people to make healthy choices.
They also called for the introduction of health warnings to be added to calorie-laden snacks.
