Santa should get off his sleigh and walk, and lay off
the brandy and mince pies, says an Australian study published
Thursday that criticises Father Christmas for being a bad role
model for children.
Unhealthy Santa should walk, give up brandy: study
Santa should get off his sleigh and walk, and lay off the brandy
and mince pies, says an Australian study published Thursday that
criticises Father Christmas for being a bad role model for
children.
The current image of Santa Claus promotes obesity,
drink-driving, speeding and an unhealthy lifestyle, says a study
from Australia's Monash University published in the British Medical
Journal.
"Epidemiologically there is a correlation between countries that
venerate Santa Claus and those that have high levels of childhood
obesity," says the research.
While a clear link has not been established, there "is a
possibility that Santa promotes a message that obesity is
synonymous with cheerfulness and joviality," it says.
Santa should go on diet and the tradition of leaving him
cookies, mince pies, milk, brandy or sherry should cease, it says.
Instead, he could share the carrots and celery sticks often left
for his reindeer.
"Santa might also be encouraged to adopt a more active method to
deliver toys -- swapping his reindeer for a bike or simply walking
or jogging," the study says.
It also questions his drinking saying the brandies often left
for him would mean that with a few billion houses to visit, he
would soon be driving his sleigh over the limit.
Santa impersonators also have potential to spread infectious
diseases: if they sneeze or cough around 10 times a day, all the
children who sit on their laps may end up with swine flu, the
researchers say.
And although Santa is banned from smoking in public, images of
him enjoying a pipe or cigar can still be found on Christmas
cards.
The study also accuses Santa of promoting speeding, disregard
for road rules, and extreme sports such as roof surfing and chimney
jumping -- although he is never shown wearing a seatbelt or a
helmet.
Santa is one of the most famous fictional characters in the
world and is even more recognised in the United States than Ronald
McDonald while also gaining popularity in the developing world, the
study says.
His popularity should be used to promote health living, says the
study, offering a new image for Santa in slimmed-down form and on a
treadmill.
"We need to be aware that Santa has an ability to influence
people, and especially children, towards unhealthy behaviour," the
researchers say.
Source: AFP
http://news.sg.msn.com/top-stories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3753745
