WHEN I was at school there was a girl in my class – let's call her Alice – who was the only one who was in any way overweight; not enormous, but simply fat, and in those days lack of money, and hardly any junk food, meant that Alice was quite unique.

She was a friendly, jolly person, liked by everyone, but if anyone was tempted to indulge in sweets, etc. they were warned that they might become like Alice and nobody wanted to be that.

Nowadays, it is becoming more and more common to see overweight people; apparently now there are over a million fatties in the UK, but far from being unhappy about it, it is becoming a status symbol.

I was amazed to hear on the news that shops and outlets are having to enlarge their premises in order to accommodate fat people. Instead of them being treated as what they are – people whose huge appetites have taken over from common sense – the rest of us now have to gear our lives to allow them to continue in their destructive, unattractive and unhealthy lifestyle.

I know that Americans have already become an overweight race – even the seats in their planes are geared to accommodate fatties – but I did believe that Brits had more sense and pride in their appearance to avoid this particular form of self-indulgence. Apparently, I was wrong.

Heather Causnett, Escrick Park Gardens, Escrick, York.