IT is not wholly fair to blame Gary Lineker and his crisp ads or McDonalds and their burgers for the fact that we appear to be turning into a nation of fatties.

For years we have been bombarded with information about healthy eating and the need to exercise.

It is our fault, therefore, if we choose to ignore it and go on consuming the things we like.

Taxing foods with a high fat content is unlikely to work unless the tax rates are so punitive that they would unfairly punish those who occasionally indulge.

Instead of employing scare tactics the health pundits might do better to try gentle persuasion and repeated appeals to our vanity.