Does Santa need to go on a diet?

(New York - WABC, November 19, 2007) (WABC) -- Santa Claus, good 'ol St. Nick, is now the target of a new campaign.

It aims at the dirty little truth about Santa Claus, a truth few people talk about. But everyone knows. It's his weight.

Eyewitness News reporter Kemberly Richardson has the story on the push to get Santa on a diet.

We're being serious.

He's the unmistakable symbol of Christmas, a man children all over the world associate with all things good.

But when it comes to Santa Claus, some say there's also a bit of bad.

Kemberly: "Would you rather had a fat Santa of a skinny santa?"
Kids: "Fat!"

Five-year-old kids we talked to had no doubt. They want a pleasantly plump St. Nick.

But there's a quiet push to slim Santa down. Critics maintain that having a large Kris Kringle sends the wrong message to kids about healthy eating at a time when childhood obesity is on the rise.

"I kind of think it would be be similar to taking the sugar plum fairy dance out of 'The Nutcracker,' it's just something that is suppose to be," said Dr. Andrea Vazzana, of the NYU Child Study Center. Dr. Vazzana has mixed feelings about tightening Santa's belt.

"There are so many children on diabetic medicine because of obesity, who are being socially stigmatized and bullied because of obesity," she said. "This is a real problem for health as well as mental health reasons."

But just because Santa is a little fuller around the middle, will that really influence what kids eat and how much of it?

"I think the true culprit is probably far closer to home than the North Pole," Dr. Vazzana said.

She says when it comes to kids eating habits, parents have the most influence, not Santa. She says it is vital to make healthy choices at home, coupled with physical activity.

Even at this young age, these kids realize you are what you eat.

Kemberly: "What kind of food do you think Santa is eating to get so plump?"
Kids: "McDonalds!"

They say they'd rather have a piece of fruit from Santa then a candy cane, but this time, no one gave back their sweet treats.

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