Originally published February 26 2006
Prince Charles warns Britons about obesity epidemic
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
At the Celebrating Achievement Forum, Prince Charles spoke to his audience about healthy living, emphasizing the importance of daily exercise as a means of steering clear of obesity.
THE Prince of Wales warned yesterday of a "super-sizing" epidemic in Britain, as he urged more people to walk and cycle to tackle unhealthy living and childhood obesity.
Prince Charles said Britain was following close behind the United States in the health problem stakes.
"We are perhaps not far behind our American cousins in the 'super-sizing' epidemic," he said in a speech at St James's Palace.
Super Size Me, the stomach-churning hit documentary, followed director Morgan Spurlock's attempts to survive on nothing but McDonald's for 30 days, leading to dire consequences for his health.
Prince Charles blames the infrastructure of towns and cities for discouraging pedestrians and physical activity.
Among those at the conference on health and urban design was Dr Richard Jackson, a former state health officer for the Californian governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The prince said in his keynote speech yesterday: "Research also suggests that walking or cycling for just half an hour a day can have a significant improvement on our state of health.
The prince went on: "Dr Jackson and his colleagues have pointed to a disturbing link between the built environment, physical inactivity and what he terms a 'syndemic' of diseases including, perhaps most worryingly, childhood obesity.
He expressed his concern at the rise in people's suffering from allergies in the UK and the emergence of "sick-building syndrome".
In the past, the prince has called for greater integration of complementary medicine, to be used to combat obesity, especially in youngsters.
In November, he backed demands for healthier, more nutritional, school meals.
Dr Jackson, who is professor at the University of California School of Health, warned that rising levels of obesity and mental illness can be directly attributed to poorly designed neighbourhoods.
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