Now then...do exercise or have your benefits cut ??

coastline

Well thats what they are saying...

Overweight or unhealthy people who refuse to attend exercise sessions could have their benefits slashed, in a move proposed by Westminster Council.
GPs would also be allowed to prescribe leisure activities such as swimming and fitness classes under the idea.
The Tory-controlled council said the aim was to save £5bn from the NHS budget when local authorities take over public health provision from April.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20897681

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/03/obesity-benefits-cuts

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/03/obese-benefits-cut-westminster_n_2400708.html?utm_hp_ref=uk

ILW

Cannot do any harm.
Just legislating to make the doors of McDs and Greggs narrower would help too.

grizzly1911

These smart cards are going to be pretty clever things to monitor that you actually do something when you get there. I wonder if the prescription will also cover the bus fare to get there?

michaels

Good to know the Tories are the party or individual freedom and responsibility isn't it. Anyone remember the the compulsory exercises in Orwell's 1984? And to think I thought a Tory/Lib Dem coalition would be a step back from totalitarian govt

ILW

grizzly1911 wrote: »

These smart cards are going to be pretty clever things to monitor that you actually do something when you get there. I wonder if the prescription will also cover the bus fare to get there?

Probably includes a "snack" whilst in the swimming pool cafe.

Fella

There should be a carrot to go with this stick. Gym memberships & exercise equipment should be vat-free or tax-deductible for people working.

ILW

michaels wrote: »

Good to know the Tories are the party or individual freedom and responsibility isn't it. Anyone remember the the compulsory exercises in Orwell's 1984? And to think I thought a Tory/Lib Dem coalition would be a step back from totalitarian govt

It's only for those on benefits.
Get a job and you can do what you like with your own money.

ILW

Fella wrote: »

There should be a carrot to go with this stick. Gym memberships & exercise equipment should be vat-free or tax-deductible for people working.

The people this is aimed at do not eat carrots.

wotsthat

During the festive season I caught an episode of 'Pushy & Proud - Junk Food Mums'.

Basically a TV show featuring families that, whilst lacking brain cells, weren't sufficiently dysfunctional to warrant a Jeremy Kyle appearance. One couple didn't cook any food whatsoever and fed their three offspring and themselves only takeaway food (McD's being the main outlet of choice).

Despite leaving school with no qualifications, never having worked, zero research and an elevated BMI it was the mother's considered opinion that this was in no way an unhealthy approach to nutrition.

What surprised me was that the family was maintained at the taxpayer's pleasure. Say the family ate a healthy breakfast of Cheerios or Sugar Puffs and ate regular McD's only twice a day that's 6 x Happy Meals and 4 x Extra Value Meals - that's over £200/ week. I just can't see how this can be possible on benefits.

adouglasmhor

Fella wrote: »

There should be a carrot to go with this stick. Gym memberships & exercise equipment should be vat-free or tax-deductible for people working.

Gym memberships are VAT free.

RevolvingDoor

I think it's an idiotic idea. What about the people who have worked for all their life and then maybe had to give up work and claim benefits because of an illness and have to take medication that makes them gain weight? Eg: some thyroid or mental health medications.

ILW wrote: »

It's only for those on benefits.
Get a job and you can do what you like with your own money.

I thought this scheme was introduced to tackle the obesity epidemic, so why is it just obese people on benefits that are the focus? How does taking away benefits from poor people help the country become more healthy?