New research pours oil on troubled waters in hysterical debate on obesity

THEY must have been tempted to bury it. For several years, authorities in Europe and the USA have been moving inexorably towards a consensus that being overweight puts you in line for an early grave.

Our children were going to pop their clogs before their parents did, it was that bad.

McDonalds were trembling in their little golden arches at the prospect of governments bringing punitive taxes on frying oils. Obesity became the new swear word.