Obesity crisis: Government set to PAY people to lose weight

Under radical NHS plans to tackle obesity, the government will pay overweight people if they lose weight as long as they have jobs.

16:41 23 October 2014

The government has outlined plans where overweight people will receive money or vouchers if they lose weight. However, in order to qualify for this scheme, they must have jobs. 

Under the radical NHS plans, employers will get funding incentives for staff to slim down.

Outlining the plans, NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens, said: “Employers in many countries have voluntary schemes for employees where, for example, you actually get cash back based on ¬participation in Weight Watchers or other type schemes.”

When asked about the rewards, he replied: “It could be shopping vouchers, it could be cash, it could be prizes.”

He suggested that rewards may vary based on the amount of weight a worker loses or how the staff would be challenged to compete with each other.

However, Dr Peedell, a cancer specialist and leader of the National Health Action party, doesn’t support the scheme.
He said: “It also fails to reward people who keep themselves healthy.

“There are many unanswered questions – which companies qualify? Will there be support to help employees lose weight?

“What if someone puts back the weight having claimed a prize? Will they have to pay it back?

“It fails to address the long-term and crucial issue of keeping the weight off. Just offering cash incentives or vouchers fails to address the reasons people find it hard to lose weight.

“Overweight people need support and advice, not the lure of a reward.”

In a briefing on the NHS plans, Mr Stephens stressed that obesity among children was “a significant future health threat” that needed tackling urgently.