Yes, indeed - this is what the National Obesity Forum is recommending. Cited in the BBC news. And apparently it's important to say 'fat' and not 'obese', because that will motivate people more! It is recommended that men are no larger than 94cm (37in) and women 80cm (31.5in) around the waist.

BBC article

Christmas may be a time of indulging for many, but health experts believe it is the perfect time to tell a loved one they are overweight.

The National Obesity Forum and International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk said it was important to be upfront because of the health risks.

Being overweight - particularly around the waist - increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

But a poll by the groups suggests too many people shy away from the issue.

The survey of more than 2,000 people found 42% of 18 to 24-year-olds would not tell a loved one they should lose weight because of a fear they would hurt the other person's feelings.

For those aged 25 to 44 it was just over a third, while for older people it was about one in four.

Men find it hardest to tell their partners, while women were more worried about bringing up the issue with a friend.

But with families and friends getting together up and down the country over the festive period, the experts believe there is an opportunity that should not be missed.

Prof David Haslam, chair of the National Obesity Forum, said: "Suggesting to someone that they should consider losing a few pounds may not be a comfortable conversation to have.

"But if someone close to you has a large waistline then as long as you do it sensitively, discussing it with them now could help them avoid critical health risks later down the line and could even save their life."

Dr Jean Pierre Despres, scientific director of the International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk, agreed.

"Start by encouraging someone close to you to make simple lifestyle changes such as becoming more active, making small alterations to their eating habits and replacing sugary drinks with water."

its a touchy subject.... i try to tell chris or encourage him to lose weight only because he talks about it i wish he would - i worry he is getting very unhealthy... he isnt active... and he works at a sit down job like i do...

It is not my responsibility to encourage others to lose weight. I'm sure my overweight family members are WELL AWARE of their waistline and don't need me in their business. Gosh, what a daft thing!

Maintaining your health in the sole responsibility of the adult in question.

If someone told my pregnant (but chubby) self I needed to lose weight.. I'd probably crawl into a corner and cry.

AGREED. Also, it makes you look like a complete asshole.

Yeah, cause telling them over Christmas is going to really HELP the situation! O.o
Jeez. I can see how it's supposed to be seen as "helpful" but it could really
make people feel worse about themselves and it might just make them worse.

...right. Because telling someone that they are fat right after opening gifts and eating a nicely prepared holiday meal is the perfect time! "Oh, Aunt Ginny, I know I haven't seen you for ages but maybe you should drop a few!"

I know I need to drop some poundage (I've already made significant progress), so I really don't need people to tell me that as I dig in to some casserole during our holiday meal.

I seriously cannot stop laughing....WHAT IDIOTS would ever recommend telling someone their fat over Christmas?

Now, Easter is another story. "Aunt Ginny, Jesus died for you. He died for you to LIVE not die of diabetes." ;-D

"they're

I'd come back with a hearty "Yeah, well, I've already lost 20 pounds - thanks for noticing - so how about you stfu, you fat bastard."

Yeah, to be honest, I get this every holiday with my family. My mum & aunts are a bunch of yo-yo dieters, so every holiday, they'll stand around eating snacks and saying how they shouldn't eat the snacks, and then make me feel guilty for taking another piece of dessert without first agonizing how "oh, I really shouldn't eat this..." Sorry, I like my food guilt-free.
Plus my cousin has no qualms about telling me how fat I've gotten.

I think it would depend on the relationship you had with them, though! If someone says "oh, do you think I should start exercising?" then you can say "Hey, that's a great idea. Let's go for a walk after dinner." or something. But if they don't want help, I don't think it needs to be offered.

@Aubrey: you know, I wonder whether that's what it's all about, when people tell people they're fat - the fact that they feel guilty themselves eating certain foods, so they resent the fact that others eat them guilt-free!

Best way to send someone into a tail spin is to rub it in their face during the holidays. We fat folks KNOW we're fat, we don't want to confront the fact that you know it too. Bugger off! (not aimed at any blooper, but at the council who thinks this is a good idea).

I also understand that a lot of people eat more when they are depressed. My dad is like that. He gets depressed and he puts on weight. So it seems counter-intuitive to put someone down and making them depressed at the holidays when there is an ABUNDANCE of food just waiting to comfort them.

My other half doesn't have to tell me I'm fat.. mostly because he knows I'm not blind.

I doubt there are many obese people in the world under the illusion that they are size 6 supermodel (uk sizes). I think the best thing you can do for someone you know is overweight is to be encouraging and supportive of their own decision to make a change...

Offer to join the gym with them, go on walks, take up an active hobbie together... I think thats far more useful and helpful than just telling them their a fat sod lol.

Most people know they're fat so there really isnt a point to tell them. Plus, they have to want to be motivated to lose weight. Telling them isn't going to make them change overnight.

I'm overweight, and yes my parents have brought up their health concerns to me (understandably so). However, I don't need someone, a friend or family member or anyone else, telling me that, on Christmas, I should lose weight. I just had a hell of a semester in college, I've been having some serious personal issues and I think someone telling me that would send me into a downward spiral. Us people who are overweight... yeah, we KNOW we're overweight! We're not blind or stupid or under some illusion that we're super-skinny ANTM material person (well, most of us aren't...).

Anyway, I just turned 19, I'm a sophomore in college and I just now am at a place in my life where I think I can have the personal self-motivation and drive to lose weight. Not through any special diet plan where I can only eat certain foods. But by working out, slowly cutting the junk from my diet and using the drive to make myself healthy to push through the struggles. I didn't need anyone telling me, on Christmas nonetheless, to lose weight. That would probably be more traumatizing than anything!

Agreed with Brittney. I'm actually fairly shocked that this comes as news to most people but fat people....WE'RE KNOW WE'RE FAT. I'm readily aware of my fat. I look at it every day. And you know what? I've always been a chunk. I always will be a chunk. I have a boyfriend of 10 years who loves me and my chunk equally. He actually pinches my chunk and calls me "pork chop" sometimes. I LOVE FOOD, i always will, have you fucking tried food?! IT IS DELICIOUS! And honestly i'm pretty hard pressed to find something LESS attractive than skinny bitches who get all their calories from lip gloss and tic tacs. Fat bitches rock. And you know what when it starts affecting my health, yeah, i'll diet and exercise until i'm healthy again, but the bottom line is i am NEVER GIVING UP BREAD OR CHEESE. It's not happening. So, honestly, if someone approached me on CHRISTMAS, and told me i should lose some weight, my immediate reaction would be to tell them to lose some ugly and then FORCIBLY REMOVE the ugly from their face, with my fist. I would physically attempt to BEAT the ugly off of them. Because remember, fatties....if we really wanted to, we could lose the weight. Lol ugly bitches are ugly FO LYFE.

THIS. THIS, ALL OVER.

Whenever someone in my family makes a fat comment, I always act completely shocked, look down and go 'OH MY GOD WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN, I HAD NO IDEA.' and run from the room mock-sobbing, laughing my ass off.

Yea, but what if you're fat AND ugly? Then you're screwed cos even if you lost the weight you'd still be an ugly bitch "fo lyfe." Sucks to be those people.

fo sho, nickel.

Fucking win.

I like telling people they're stupid for Christmas.

If someone told me to lose weight, I would probably die laughing.
I don`t know what I have left to lose ^^

@Schizophrenic: That's because this thread is talking about people who are overweight. You have nothing to do with it.