Okay, I understand that the Brits are scared about rising obesity rates, but the lastest idea to combat it is beyond ridiculous.

Doctors at the National Health Service suggested that a helpline be instituted for people who bought larger clothes.

The kicker is that the number would be promoted on the labels of all clothes sold with a waist of more than 40in (102cm) for men, 37in (94cm) for boys, 35in (88cm) for women, and 31in (80cm) for girls.

That's right, embarrass folks into losing weight. My god, that kind of system would just make me eat more!

I understand being worried. A report by BBC News said obesity took up 9 percent of the budget and that number is slated to rise significantly in the future as more people become larger.

Other ideas seem more plausible, includiing health checks for those leaving school, making green spaces part of housing complexes, funding surgery for the morbidly obese and taxing processed food high in sugar and salt.

Let's just keep the labels for clothing care instructions.

-- Amanda Barrett, amNY.com