Santa sets poor health model

Friday, 18 December 2009 The Conversation. Monash University

Image: iStoc !hoto

Santa sho"#d share $"do#%&s snac o% carrots and ce#ery stic s. 'e sho"#d not have brandy and mince !ies. 'e sho"#d a#so s(a! his reindeer %or a bi e or (a# . This is (hat Dr )athan *ri##s, %rom +onash ,niversity in -"stra#ia says. 'e states that the c"rrent image o% Santa !romotes obesity, drin .driving, s!eeding and a genera# "nhea#thy #i%esty#e. 'e arg"es that /Santa on#y needs to a%%ect hea#th by 0.1 !er cent to damage mi##ions o% #ives0. It (o"#d be better i% his !o!"#arity (as "sed to !romote hea#thy #iving. *ri##s revie(ed research and ne(s to see (hat negative e%%ect Santa has. 'e %o"nd that chi#dren are very a(are o% Santa.

-merican schoo# ids recognise Santa C#a"s more than $ona#d +cDona#d, says the !a!er. *ri##s a#so %o"nd that /Santa se##s, and sometimes he se##s harm%"# !rod"cts0. This ha!!ens a## ro"nd the (or#d. Santa is no( banned %rom smo ing. There are sti## Christmas cards sho(ing him en1oying a !i!e or cigar. Father Christmas a#so !otentia##y !romotes drin .driving 2 !eo!#e #eave Santa C#a"s a brandy to (ish him (e## on his trave#. I% he visits a %e( bi##ion ho"ses, he (o"#d soon be over the #imit. -#so, Santa has can s!read in%ectio"s diseases. Santa may snee3e or co"ghs aro"nd 10 times a day . a## the chi#dren (ho sit on his #a! may end "! (ith s(ine %#", arg"es *ri##s. *ri##s s"ggests a ne( image %or Santa 2 a s#immed do(n version on a treadmi##.