Boris Johnson has caused a stir with a bizarre claim that the Church of England is to blame for the UK’s obesity crisis. If you’re scratching your head, you’re not alone. His comments have left many people on social media completely baffled.
The Church and ‘Spiritual Sustenance’
According to The Times, the former Prime Minister thinks the Church of England has failed to provide enough “spiritual sustenance” to the public. His theory? People are so spiritually starved that they’re gorging themselves on food instead. Johnson even went as far as to suggest that Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby should be focusing on “people’s spiritual needs” rather than talking about slavery reparations. And while he was at it, he told Welby to “ask himself why people in this country are so bloody fat.”
A Trip Down Memory Lane
The ex-PM also reflected on his own school days, where he claimed it was “very rare for there to be a fatso in the class.” Fast forward to today, and apparently, “they’re all fatsos.” Yes, he went there. He added that he’d probably get into trouble for saying that, but it’s “the truth.” According to Boris, kids today are just too sedentary. They’re glued to their screens and aren’t out and about as much because “there are paedophiles everywhere” and, heaven forbid, they should actually exercise.
Risk Aversion, the Real Villain?
Johnson also blamed what he calls “risk aversion” for the rise in obesity. Back in his day, he says, kids were much more active, running around and eating sweets like Spangles and Curly Wurlies. Now, kids apparently don’t play outside because they’re told it’s too dangerous. According to Johnson, if we didn’t wrap our children in cotton wool, they’d get more exercise and be healthier.
Obesity and Covid-19
It didn’t stop there. Johnson linked the UK’s obesity rates to the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic. He reflected on his own time in ICU during his battle with the virus, noting that many of the people around him were middle-aged men, a bit like himself, and not in the best shape. He admitted that his personal experience left him thinking, “Crikey, we’ve got to sort this out.”
The Government Responds
Not surprisingly, the current government wasn’t exactly backing Johnson’s latest theories. When asked about his comments, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson said, “I didn’t quite follow his line of argument.” They did, however, point out that the government has been taking action to tackle obesity, which is a major issue for public health, the economy, and, of course, the NHS.
Public Reaction: Confused and Amused
On social media, Johnson’s comments sparked a mixture of confusion and amusement. Many people labelled the former Tory MP’s remarks as “desperate” and “peak Johnson.” The public certainly seems to be struggling to understand where he’s coming from on this one.
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