Obesity Crisis: UK Government To Pay Fat People To Lose Weight

^{UK Prime Minister David Cameron (Photo Credit: Getty Images)}
Overweight people are to receive cash prizes and gift vouchers if they lose weight, according to the NHS.
In an effort to tackle the obesity crisis, employers are to receive funding from the NHS so they may offer monetary incentives to staff who are overweight.
But the news has polarised both the public and medical experts, with top doctors saying that many overweight people are unemployed – making them ineligible for the prizes – and members of the public arguing that having the discipline to stay healthy was more befitting a reward.
‘This policy will do nothing to help the millions of unemployed and the growing numbers of self-employed people who may need help but won’t qualify,’ Clive Peedell told the Mirror.

^{Simon Stevens has defended the plans, which he says have had success in the U.S. (Picture: Getty Images)}

One Twitter user said overweight people who hadn’t exercised self-control ‘didn’t deserve’ the cash, while others said incentivising weight loss with money did not help fat people develop a healthy long-term attitude to food.
‘The reward for weight loss should be feeling better and looking better,’ said Sue Hall.
But NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens defended the plan, which has had success in the U.S.
‘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,’ he told the Mirror.

Mr Stevens added that it could inspire members of staff to compete against each other to lose weight.