As health secretary Alan Johnson packed up for the summer, he left a stern warning about the dangers of overindulgence.

He followed last week's alcohol strategy with one on obesity, just in case anyone was tempted to enjoy their holiday.

Mr Johnson is adamant the obese should not be vilified. The Evening Standard disagreed, screaming: "Dave's right: being fat is really your own fault," referring to Tory leader David Cameron's view that people get fat because they eat too much and exercise too little and then their children do the same. This is the man who had his bike stolen when popping into the supermarket "to buy a slimming salad - no Pringles", it notes.

However, those out of shape can be reassured they will not lose their entitlement to NHS treatment. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence chief executive Andrew Dillon told The Daily Telegraph that everyone should be treated equally unless being overweight or smoking means a treatment is pointless or would not work.

Perhaps he is scared of more hate mail. "People write angry letters to me at NICE," he admits. On one occasion he had to call the police about an email regarding a NICE decision.

If you like your food, don't go to hospital, is the message from The Daily Mail, which exclaims that criminals held in police cells "receive three meals a day at a cost of£12 compared to the£8.90 feeding a patient".

But no one it seems told a patient who blocked a bed at Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust for six years. The Sun reports the stay cost£450,000.

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