Doctors and dentists today responded to NHS advice urging Britons to reduce their consumption of Easter eggs.
NHS medical director Dr Andrew Kelso advised the public to “resist the temptation to eat a whole egg in one sitting”.
In a blog, he said Brits should do “everything they can to look after themselves” when surgeries are closed from Good Friday to Easter Monday. The sugar and calories hidden in sweets “don’t do our body any good,” she said.
Dr Andrew Kelso, medical director of the NHS, who critics have branded a “spoiler”, urged the public to avoid mocking whole Easter eggs in one go and to cut back on cakes and biscuits.
But his medical colleagues responded by saying that life is too “short” to follow Dr. Kelso’s advice.
Anesthetics and critical care consultant @madbusymum wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘I am a critical care doctor. Life is short. Eat the Easter egg.
Intensive care nurse Sue Crocombe responded: “I totally agree.”
Oxford-based palliative care doctor Rachel Clarke said: ‘I am a palliative care doctor. What she said.’
Even dentists, who always urge people to limit their sugar, disagreed with Dr. Kelso’s advice.
Part-time dentist Wendy Thompson, professor of dentistry at the University of Manchester, said: “I’m a dentist… Eat the Easter egg already!”
Meanwhile, Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “This infantilising advice from an NHS killjoy wouldn’t rankle so much if it weren’t part of a wider warning to the public telling us not to to get our hopes up for receiving health care during the holiday weekend.
‘The real advice is to get sick from Monday to Friday during working hours and not on holidays.
In retaliation for the ‘infantizing’ advice, anesthetics and intensive care consultant @madbusymum wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘I am an intensive care doctor. Life is short. Eat the Easter egg
Intensive care nurse Sue Crocombe responded and said she “completely agree” that it is okay to eat a whole egg this Easter.
Even dentists agree that it is okay to enjoy chocolate at Easter. Wendy Thompson, dentist and professor at the University of Manchester, recommended eating chocolate
The NHS chief has warned that the sugar and extra calories people consume when celebrating with friends and family “doesn’t do our bodies any good”.
‘I doubt there will be many people waiting 12 hours in A&E this weekend for an Easter egg-related injury.
“NHS bosses should take a break from bullying the public and let us enjoy Easter.”
Seven in ten men and six in ten women in England are overweight or obese and almost 4 million people in the UK live with type 2 diabetes.
Meanwhile, one in six children leaves primary school with rotten teeth and cavities remain the most common reason for hospital admission in children aged 6 to 10.
Dr Kelso, medical director of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, wrote: “The Easter holidays are a fantastic opportunity to rest and relax with our families, which is so important for our wellbeing.” .
‘This will also be a time when, for many of us, our consumption of chocolate and sweets will increase.
“However, many people don’t realize that an average Easter egg contains around three-quarters of the recommended daily calorie intake for an adult.
‘At a time like this, when we are seeing significant increases in cases of obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as tooth decay, I urge people to enjoy their Easter eggs in moderation and resist the temptation to eat an egg whole in one go.
‘As well as Easter eggs, many of us will be gathering with family and friends for social occasions, allowing us to eat more cakes and cookies.
‘Combined, all of this adds up to a lot of extra sugar and calories that don’t do our bodies any good. Enjoy your sweets, but don’t overdo it.
“This holiday will also be a busy period for NHS staff and services, and I ask people to do everything they can to look after themselves and know how to access the most appropriate source of advice and care if they feel unwell.” .