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Santa's a Terrible Role Model for Kids

He's obese, doesn't wear a helmet, and could be spreading swine flu

By the Associated Press

Posted Dec 17, 2009 4:00 PM CST

(AP) – There really is a Santa Claus—and he's a public health menace, warns a light-hearted new study in a British medical journal. It identifies a "very high Santa awareness" among children and determines that he's a reckless role model with his frequent cookie snacks, occasional cigars, and refusal to don a helmet during "extreme sports such as roof surfing and chimney jumping."

"Santa is a late adopter of evidence-based behavior change and continues to sport a rotund, sedentary image," writes Australian public health expert Nathan Grills. What's more, "Santa promotes a message that obesity is synonymous with cheerfulness and joviality." And most disturbingly, Santa's close-up contact with sniffling, coughing kids made him a one-man outbreak waiting to happen. "Unsuspecting little Johnny gets to sit on Santa's lap, but as well as his present, he gets H1N1 influenza," Grills warns.

Where's your helmet, man? (AP Photo)

A man dressed as Santa Claus. (AP Photo)

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Santa's a Terrible Role Model for Kids

He's obese, doesn't wear a helmet, and could be spreading swine flu

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obesity • public health • humor • Santa Claus • scientific research • public safety • swine flu • H1N1 virus

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Some scientist say it's airborne, not spread by touch

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Santa's a Terrible Role Model for Kids

He's obese, doesn't wear a helmet, and could be spreading swine flu

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

obesity • public health • humor • Santa Claus • scientific research • public safety • swine flu • H1N1 virus

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Swine Flu Not Gone Yet

US is 'not at all out of the woods,' CDC chief says

Vaccine Scarier Than Swine Flu: Poll

Concern high and building, but 60+% don't plan to get a shot

Little Kids Still Need 2 Swine Flu Shots

Older kids, like adults, get effective H1N1 inoculation from just 1 dose

Hand-Washing Might Not Help Much Against Flu

Some scientist say it's airborne, not spread by touch

Swine Flu Can Burrow Deep Into Lungs: Docs

H1N1 can infect cells where seasonal flu can't: study

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?