Pounds for pounds

According to the latest research, paying people to lose weight works better than diet plans.

The claims are made by a company called Weight Wins, who have persuaded the NHS to fund a pilot scheme in Kent to reward slimmers with cash for every pound they lose.

A successful slimmer on a 13 month pounds for pounds plan can be paid up to £425 for losing 50lb, while losing 30lbs in six months could earn you £160.

At first glance, this idea will have its sceptics. However, when you consider an estimated 31 million adults are now thought to be overweight or obese (68% of men and 59% of women) with a cost to society at a massive £3.6 billion a year, then maybe it's worth a try.

On the other hand, with all political parties calling for massive cuts in public spending, can this form of incentive really be justified?

Perhaps if the NHS had money to spare this idea would be acceptable, but NHS budgets will be hit hard and, as critics will point out, there are already plenty of people unable to get the funding to pay for the treatment they need.

If you were in charge of the Department of Health, what would you do?

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