Santa says "no, no, no" to going on a diet

By Robert MacMillan

NEW YORK, Dec 7 (Reuters Life!) - Santa has one message to calls this Christmas for him to set an example for children by losing weight -- no no no.

The bearded, rotund Santa has in recent years been accused of being a fraud, an interloper and even politically incorrect but now he also faces accusations of being unhealthy and a bad role model as child obesity rates soar.

Santa has come under pressure to get rid of the wobbling belly under his red suit with Santas at a British shopping center -- Bluewater near Dartford, Kent -- ordered to attend a month-long boot camp with exercises before greeting children.

The acting U.S. surgeon general has said a thinner Santa would be a better role model. "It is really important that the people who kids look up to as role models are in good shape, eating well and getting exercise," acting U.S. Surgeon General Steven K. Galson was reported as saying after a recent presentation on obesity.

But supporters of the portly present purveyor and his stand-ins in the lead-up to Dec 25 have dismissed calls for a svelte Santa, saying he is not the right person to lead a campaign against childhood obesity.

After all he has boasted a wide girth for over 20 years since transforming from Saint Nicholas and a plump Father Christmas in a green robe in Britain in the 17th century into the rotund man in a red suit and white beard whose image was cemented through Coca-Cola advertisements during the 1930s.

"Kids know Santa in a big red costume. They don't care if Santa is hugely obese," said professional Santa Claus, Dutch Schrap, 33, of Pennsylvania, who runs an entertainment business specializing in Santas, called North Pole Entertainment.