Can you ever imagine a Santa Claus without his round belly? Well, you better start because a shopping centre Santa is refusing to stuff a pillow up his suit, as he believes it promotes child obesity.
The 80-year-old Bill Winton has said that children think of Father Christmas as a chubby role model and they grow up believing that it is ok to be fat and unhealthy."Just last week, I had a couple of children on my knee and was left with sore legs because they were so tubby,” the Daily Record quoted Winton, as saying.
"I now refuse to stuff a pillow in my suit as it doesn't set the right example to kids.
"A lot of people say to me, 'Why are you not fat Santa?' I tell them I am trying to promote healthy eating in a bid to tackle child obesity,” he added.
Bosses at the Westside Plaza shopping centre in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh backed Bill's stance.
Manager Alex Limond said: "Santa should be a role model. If he can't persuade kids to be healthy then no one can."
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"It is nice to hear that Santa is staying off the mince pies,” the government said.
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Director Andrew MacKinnon said: "The idea of a skinny Santa is ridiculous. Kids won't believe Santa is real if he is skinny. Anyone who thinks any different should get a life. Our Santa has to be fat and if he isn't then he will be sacked."
Source-ANI
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