Does the British health minister want you to 'Hug a Fatty?'

There's no doubt that obesity is a huge problem throughout the world. But is acceptance the key to beating the epidemic? British Health Secretary Alan Johnson thinks so, and he's calling for an end to the vilification of fat people.

According to Mr. Johnson: ''It's easy for politicians to stand on the sidelines accusing the impoverished, the fat and the excluded of only having themselves to blame ... But this is not a licence to hector and lecture people on how they should spend their lives - not least because this simply won't work. Tackling obesity requires a much broader partnership."

So what's the answer? Mr. Johnson is campaigning for a national health movement in the UK that works with people in a positive way, rather than alienating those who are overweight.

Your thoughts?