Dr Nathan Grills and illustrator Brendan Halyday, from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, said the current image of Santa promotes obesity, drink-driving, speeding and a general unhealthy lifestyle.
Santas universal fame means he is used by companies around the globe to sell all kinds of products, including unhealthy foods, they went on.
For example, there is very high awareness of Santa among young children - higher than the McDonalds Ronald McDonald.
If Ronald McDonald can be so effective at selling burgers to children, we might expect Santa to be equally effective at selling other goods, said the study's author.
Writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the authors said Santa used to also sell cigarettes but that has now been banned.
They went on to provide a full list of Santas unhealthy behaviours, including encouraging fathers to step in and eat leftover mince pies, thereby expanding their own waistlines.
With billions of homes to visit, Santa is also soon over the drink-driving limit due to too many brandies and sherries.
Other dangerous activities that Santa could be accused of promoting include speeding, disregard for road rules, and extreme sports such as roof surfing and chimney jumping.
Despite the risks of high speed air travel Santa is never depicted wearing a seatbelt or a helmet.
With Santa coughing or sneezing up to 10 times a day, he may also pass on infections such as swine flu to children, the authors wrote.
A shortage of Santa "helpers" means people are never checked for any illnesses they may be carrying or given help to protect them from sick children.
The authors conclude there is a need for Santa to undergo an image overhaul - one that promotes healthy living.
Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/santa-promotes-obesity-and-drink-driving-438672.html#ixzz0a0AAfBSX
You've got to wonder what these people do in their free-time, it's for one month a year and it's not exactly like children are going to fly over-speed in a sleigh and I doubt their parents would let them drink..
Santas universal fame means he is used by companies around the globe to sell all kinds of products, including unhealthy foods, they went on.
For example, there is very high awareness of Santa among young children - higher than the McDonalds Ronald McDonald.
If Ronald McDonald can be so effective at selling burgers to children, we might expect Santa to be equally effective at selling other goods, said the study's author.
Writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the authors said Santa used to also sell cigarettes but that has now been banned.
They went on to provide a full list of Santas unhealthy behaviours, including encouraging fathers to step in and eat leftover mince pies, thereby expanding their own waistlines.
With billions of homes to visit, Santa is also soon over the drink-driving limit due to too many brandies and sherries.
Other dangerous activities that Santa could be accused of promoting include speeding, disregard for road rules, and extreme sports such as roof surfing and chimney jumping.
Despite the risks of high speed air travel Santa is never depicted wearing a seatbelt or a helmet.
With Santa coughing or sneezing up to 10 times a day, he may also pass on infections such as swine flu to children, the authors wrote.
A shortage of Santa "helpers" means people are never checked for any illnesses they may be carrying or given help to protect them from sick children.
The authors conclude there is a need for Santa to undergo an image overhaul - one that promotes healthy living.
Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/santa-promotes-obesity-and-drink-driving-438672.html#ixzz0a0AAfBSX
You've got to wonder what these people do in their free-time, it's for one month a year and it's not exactly like children are going to fly over-speed in a sleigh and I doubt their parents would let them drink..
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