Uncle Kaveh

It’s been a while since I posted here. I’ve been travelling and busy, but a few things have been in my mind which I hope to offload here soon.

A few weeks ago, Air India sacked 10 air hostesses for being over the weight limit for the height and age. They were given time to reduce their weight by some 3kg, but failed to do so. The politically correct lobby are no doubt up in arms about this but I favour the action for the following reasons, in order of importance:

1. Obesity is a major problem in India. Diabetes is a fast growing problem in India, as well as heart disease. Both can be related to obesity, so people have to be encouraged to eat healthily and to keep fit.
2. In an emergency, an overweight stewardess would be less able to help passengers than a fit one.
3. It is easier to negotiate one’s way past a slim stewardess in the isle than a paunchy one.
4. When serving meals and drinks, podgy stewardesses are more likely to cause a “total eclipse” of the TV than cute, slim ones.
5. The slim variety will cost less in fuel to fly around the world, so would be less of a burden on the environment.

I have seen a steady increase in average weight of our staff in India, and I am worried about their long term health. Unfortunately many will not see this until it is too late. All we can do is to provide sports facilities and healthy food in our new office and to alert them to problems lying ahead.