Anthea Turner thinks fighting obesity can help save the NHS.
Anthea Turner
The 60-year-old presenter recently came under fire for posting a cartoon of an overweight woman on a mobility scooter telling a mask-less youngster that she's putting her "health at risk" - but Anthea has now insisted she stands by her controversial view.
She told The Sun newspaper: "I find it really difficult and struggle to understand how someone who was lucky enough to be born with a good, functioning working body could then willy destroy it.
"It was a clumsy cartoon and I apologise if I caused any offence to anyone - but this is not about disabled people.
"The picture was meant to be ironic as the only person affecting the lady's health is herself by eating the junk food clearly shown."
Anthea denied accusations of fat-shaming and insisted she simply wants to encourage people to eat well and exercise.
The former 'GMTV' presenter observed that a healthy body is "the most precious thing we have".
She explained: "This was never meant to be about people who are overweight through no fault of their own.
"This is about those who are not adopting a healthy lifestyle at a time when it's more important than ever because we have a very worrying obesity problem in this country.
"A healthy body is truly the most precious thing we have. I find it very sad that someone could abuse that by wilful damage.
"I want people to start thinking, 'I'm lucky I've got a body that works' because not everybody does.
"Let's respect that body and do our level best to look after it.
"It's not about fat-shaming, it's about saving your life and other people's too."
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