payment from nhs for diet class

EssexGirl

Just had a thought. I'm pretty sure the NHS have a contract with the SW & WW companies, rather than actually spending £5 per person per week.

aliasojo

EssexGirl wrote: »

And it's not just about the money. It's about commitment. You see just going to WW or SW each week, you only have yourself to answer to. By doing this through the NHS you have a moral "contract" so to speak, and it gives me the extra push I need to do well and succeed.

Well done. You make a very valid point about having a moral contract. I can see that for some people this might make the difference in the way they thought about class attendance and how much effort they put into changing their eating habits.

RichOneday_2

EssexGirl wrote: »

Comes out of hiding waving a white flag........

I am one of the "unfortunate" fat people who have taken the NHS up on it's kind offer of a weekly SW class. I have a medical condtion that makes losing weight and keeping it off difficult. Due to the nature of the condition, I have recently found out that I am predisposed to heart disease, cancer and other nasties. It's almost like having a death sentence hanging over my head. Lovely, not.

Anyway since joining SW, I have lost 5% of my body weight in 12 weeks. No mean feat with my condition. I have just started the 2nd 12 week stint.

So with the support of the SW group and the encouragement of the nurse at my local surgery I am on the road to (hopefully) better health.
And it's not just about the money. It's about commitment. You see just going to WW or SW each week, you only have yourself to answer to. By doing this through the NHS you have a moral "contract" so to speak, and it gives me the extra push I need to do well and succeed.

I'm sorry, but this is exactly the sort of post that will convince people that this sort of thing shouldn't be paid for out of public funds.

To briefly recap:

1. You have a number of serious risks attached to being overweight that you are fully aware of.

2. You have a great incentive to lose weight.

3. The support of an SW group helps you to achieve that aim.

4. Despite the above you simply couldn't be bothered going unless you had a 'moral obligation' to go because the NHS was paying? You can't generate the committment to go if you've only got yourself to answer to?

In a nutshell, you want the general public to pay, rather than yourself, because you can't be bothered going, despite being aware of all the risks, unless someone else is effectively checking up on you and making sure you're going!

aliasojo

RichOneday wrote: »

In a nutshell, you want the general public to pay, rather than yourself, because you can't be bothered going, despite being aware of all the risks, unless someone else is effectively checking up on you and making sure you're going!

As I said earlier, I dont think the NHS should pay for this BUT I dont think losing weight is a black and white issue and I can accept that certain things will help tip the balance for some people.

EssexGirl

RichOneday wrote: »

To briefly recap:

1. You have a number of serious risks attached to being overweight that you are fully aware of.

2. You have a great incentive to lose weight.

If you had read my post more carefully I have only recently found out that I am at greater risk for these conditions than mere mortals such as yourself. I have however been a bit overweight for some time. Therefore to counteract those risks my doctor offered me the chance to do something about it. The gravity of my situation a great incentive.
I would however like to point out that now I have lost 5% of my body weight I am a mere size 18, which in the overweight scheme of things isn't that big compared to a lot of big people.
Let's just say I'm trying to nip any problems in the bud.

I've worked and paid my taxes all of my life, never claimed benefits, so I don't consider myself to a be a burden to society by using a service that was readily offered to me.

RichOneday_2

EssexGirl wrote: »

If you had read my post more carefully I have only recently found out that I am at greater risk for these conditions than mere mortals such as yourself. I have however been a bit overweight for some time. Therefore to counteract those risks my doctor offered me the chance to do something about it. The gravity of my situation a great incentive.
I would however like to point out that now I have lost 5% of my body weight I am a mere size 18, which in the overweight scheme of things isn't that big compared to a lot of big people.
Let's just say I'm trying to nip any problems in the bud.

I've worked and paid my taxes all of my life, never claimed benefits, so I don't consider myself to a be a burden to society by using a service that was readily offered to me.

I did read your post carefully.

Nobody is saying anything about taking up the offer if it is made - simply whether the offer should be there in the first place.

You have completely sidestepped the point, though....why do you need a 'moral contract' to get you motivated to attend SW classes. Why does your own responsibilty for your own health not provide a big enough motivation for you to make the effort to attend?

vik6525

EssexGirl wrote: »

Comes out of hiding waving a white flag........

I am one of the "unfortunate" fat people who have taken the NHS up on it's kind offer of a weekly SW class. I have a medical condtion that makes losing weight and keeping it off difficult. Due to the nature of the condition, I have recently found out that I am predisposed to heart disease, cancer and other nasties. It's almost like having a death sentence hanging over my head. Lovely, not.

Anyway since joining SW, I have lost 5% of my body weight in 12 weeks. No mean feat with my condition. I have just started the 2nd 12 week stint.

So with the support of the SW group and the encouragement of the nurse at my local surgery I am on the road to (hopefully) better health.
And it's not just about the money. It's about commitment. You see just going to WW or SW each week, you only have yourself to answer to. By doing this through the NHS you have a moral "contract" so to speak, and it gives me the extra push I need to do well and succeed.

Oh and before the food bashers come in, yes I do eat my 5 a day and try to get the fish in twice a week. I cook 90% of meals from scratch and would never DREAM of sending my son to school with chocolate and a packet of crisps for his packed lunch.

Firstly, well done on your weight loss.

But secondly, why couldnt you have gone to WW or whatever under your own steam?

And thirdly, what is your medical condition that initially prevented you loosing weight, but now doesnt seem to be making a difference?

aliasojo

RichOneday wrote: »

.......why do you need a 'moral contract' to get you motivated to attend SW classes. Why does your own responsibilty for your own health not provide a big enough motivation for you to make the effort to attend?

That's the burning question though isn't it? Can you answer this? Overweight people know everything in theory, so why is it that some are not successful in losing weight in practice? Why is this scheme apparently successful for some, given that they have failed to lose weight on their own before?

Why do alcoholics drink when they know it's killing their liver?

Why do drug addicts continue to shoot up when they know the next hit could be the last.

Unfortunately human behaviour doesn't always respond to what seems logical.

RichOneday_2

aliasojo wrote: »

That's the burning question though isn't it? Can you answer this? Overweight people know everything in theory, so why is it that some are not successful in losing weight in practice? Why is this scheme apparently successful for some, given that they have failed to lose weight on their own before?

Why do alcoholics drink when they know it's killing their liver?

Why do drug addicts continue to shoot up when they know the next hit could be the last.

Unfortunately human behaviour doesn't always respond to what seems logical.

What scheme?

If anything is being successful - it is attending SW meetings.

Those meetings are available regardless of who is paying for them!

aliasojo

RichOneday wrote: »

What scheme?

If anything is being successful - it is attending SW meetings.

Those meetings are available regardless of who is paying for them!

I'm surprised you had to ask 'what scheme' since we are clearly discussing an NHS initiative whereby people are being subsidised by the NHS to encourage them to attend classes in a bid to help them lose weight.

Obviously the classes are available without NHS involvement but the quote in post 73 explains why this seems to tip the balance for some.