Obesity benefits cut for refusal to exercise

awec · 03-01-2013 6:07pm #1

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

In England, in 1 council, to put it into perspective.

Honestly, I can see the merit in it. Exercise sessions can be prescribed by doctors over there if you are fat. If you refuse to attend these sessions then why should you continue to receive money from the taxpayer?

Of course, we'll hear all this "I'm fat and it's out of my control". I'm sure that's true in some cases, I'm also sure it's not true for the majority of cases. A lot of people are fat because what comes in is more than what goes out.

Provided it is judged on a case-by-case basis by doctors (which appears to be the case) then I say it's a good idea.

thebigbiffo · 03-01-2013 6:09pm

Fat chance...

With that out of the way, I'd like to voice my approval for this initiative.

donvito99 · 03-01-2013 6:09pm

We need Simpson's style Fat Camps

SEPT 23 1989 · 03-01-2013 6:15pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABluNAn9Esk

Daftendirekt · 03-01-2013 7:54pm

Terrible idea.

Leaving aside the intrusiveness of the proposal, has it occurred to these people that this might actually deter some people from seeking medical advice or assistance in the first place?

Also, if this is to be rolled out, why only obesity? Why not force diabetics or people suffering with some form of muscular dystrophy to take up these exercise regimes as well? Regular exercise is important for people suffering with these conditions to maintain their health, so why only target fat people?

And what good is compulsory exercise to someone who has no inclination to change their diet anyway? Should people have to report everything they eat to the local welfare office?

This is an idea designed to appeal to the kind of person who likes to abuse fat people while pretending to be concerned about their health or the financial burden they put on the healthcare system. Not a way to reduce obesity.

lim abroad · 03-01-2013 7:59pm

Daftendirekt wrote: »

Terrible idea.

Leaving aside the intrusiveness of the proposal, has it occurred to these people that this might actually deter some people from seeking medical advice or assistance in the first place?

Also, if this is to be rolled out, why only obesity? Why not force diabetics or people suffering with some form of muscular dystrophy to take up these exercise regimes as well? Regular exercise is important for people suffering with these conditions to maintain their health, so why only target fat people?

And what good is compulsory exercise to someone who has no inclination to change their diet anyway? Should people have to report everything they eat to the local welfare office?

This is an idea designed to appeal to the kind of person who likes to abuse fat people while pretending to be concerned about their health or the financial burden they put on the healthcare system. Not a way to reduce obesity.

There should be no such thing as obesity benefit in the first place

orestes · 03-01-2013 8:02pm

Bucket of KFC + fishing rod + treadmill = problem solved.

tayto lover · 03-01-2013 8:03pm

Some of the doctors I know are obese themselves. Come to think of it James Reilly and Mary Harney as Ministers for Health say it all.

Daftendirekt · 03-01-2013 8:08pm

lim abroad wrote: »

There should be no such thing as obesity benefit in the first place

Not sure if serious, but...

... I don't think there is.

Fromthetrees · 03-01-2013 8:08pm

Right so, will the money saved by cutting these benefits go into better nutritional educational in the schooling system?

Froyo · 03-01-2013 8:09pm

Daftendirekt wrote: »

Terrible idea.

Leaving aside the intrusiveness of the proposal, has it occurred to these people that this might actually deter some people from seeking medical advice or assistance in the first place?

Also, if this is to be rolled out, why only obesity? Why not force diabetics or people suffering with some form of muscular dystrophy to take up these exercise regimes as well? Regular exercise is important for people suffering with these conditions to maintain their health, so why only target fat people?

And what good is compulsory exercise to someone who has no inclination to change their diet anyway? Should people have to report everything they eat to the local welfare office?

This is an idea designed to appeal to the kind of person who likes to abuse fat people while pretending to be concerned about their health or the financial burden they put on the healthcare system. Not a way to reduce obesity.

Yeah because being obese is akin to having a disorder such add muscular dystrophy!

What a silly thing to say.

Obesity is a 'condition' that is fully preventable and curable. It involves, to an extent, a person making the correct lifestyle choices.

There should be no benefits for essentially being fat and lazy.

In some cases, counselling should be provided to help them on their way. That's it.

Hilly Bill · 03-01-2013 8:16pm

Daftendirekt wrote: »

Terrible idea.

Leaving aside the intrusiveness of the proposal, has it occurred to these people that this might actually deter some people from seeking medical advice or assistance in the first place?

Also, if this is to be rolled out, why only obesity? Why not force diabetics or people suffering with some form of muscular dystrophy to take up these exercise regimes as well? Regular exercise is important for people suffering with these conditions to maintain their health, so why only target fat people?

And what good is compulsory exercise to someone who has no inclination to change their diet anyway? Should people have to report everything they eat to the local welfare office?

This is an idea designed to appeal to the kind of person who likes to abuse fat people while pretending to be concerned about their health or the financial burden they put on the healthcare system. Not a way to reduce obesity.

Why should someone who cant be arsed finding a job because they are happy enough to sit at home stuffing their face with cream cakes and watching Jeremy Kyle on the telly get benefits and then claim that they are too obese to work anyway.
There is a difference between someone who is lazy and obese and could do something about it and someone who has a medical condition through no fault of their own.

awec · 03-01-2013 8:19pm

Fromthetrees wrote: »

Right so, will the money saved by cutting these benefits go into better nutritional educational in the schooling system?

The idea is to reduce spending. Reduce the amount of money being pumped in to the NHS.

Cuts being made somewhere doesn't mean there has to be more spent somewhere else!

Daftendirekt · 03-01-2013 8:25pm

Froyo wrote: »

Yeah because being obese is akin to having a disorder such add muscular dystrophy!

What a silly thing to say.

Obesity is a 'condition' that is fully preventable and curable. It involves, to an extent, a person making the correct lifestyle choices.

Nothing silly about it. The stated aim of the proposal is to reduce the healthcare budget. If it's acceptable to intrude into the lives of welfare recipients to do this, then why single out one condition over another? The fact that obesity is preventable and curable is beside the point.

There should be no benefits for essentially being fat and lazy.

There are none that I know of.

In some cases, counselling should be provided to help them on their way. That's it.

Agreed.

Daftendirekt · 03-01-2013 8:27pm

Hilly Bill wrote: »

Why should someone who cant be arsed finding a job because they are happy enough to sit at home stuffing their face with cream cakes and watching Jeremy Kyle on the telly get benefits and then claim that they are too obese to work anyway.

Feel free to point out where in the article it mentions people like this. Because I can't see it.

Conall Cernach · 03-01-2013 8:27pm

Daftendirekt wrote: »

Not sure if serious, but...

... I don't think there is.

There is an alcoholism benefit in the UK. If you are certified as an alcoholic you can get extra payments. If you successfully kick your addiction you lose this benefit.

PaurGasm · 03-01-2013 8:30pm

GOOD...Might get the aulde pair off their bloody asses before they kick the bucket

Daftendirekt · 03-01-2013 8:30pm

Conall Cernach wrote: »

There is an alcoholism benefit in the UK. If you are certified as an alcoholic you can get extra payments. If you successfully kick your addiction you lose this benefit.

Got a link?

krudler · 03-01-2013 8:30pm

Daftendirekt wrote: »

Terrible idea.

Leaving aside the intrusiveness of the proposal, has it occurred to these people that this might actually deter some people from seeking medical advice or assistance in the first place?

Also, if this is to be rolled out, why only obesity? Why not force diabetics or people suffering with some form of muscular dystrophy to take up these exercise regimes as well? Regular exercise is important for people suffering with these conditions to maintain their health, so why only target fat people?

And what good is compulsory exercise to someone who has no inclination to change their diet anyway? Should people have to report everything they eat to the local welfare office?

This is an idea designed to appeal to the kind of person who likes to abuse fat people while pretending to be concerned about their health or the financial burden they put on the healthcare system. Not a way to reduce obesity.

Diabetes and muscular dystrophy are in no way comparable to being fat. Fat through medical reasons is one thing, I was on steroids before and balooned, fat from being a lazy fcuker is something else entirely.

Daftendirekt · 03-01-2013 8:33pm

krudler wrote: »

Diabetes and muscular dystrophy are in no way comparable to being fat. Fat through medical reasons is one thing, I was on steroids before and balooned, fat from being a lazy fcuker is something else entirely.

Right, maybe muscular dystrophy was a bad example. Point still stands for diabetes though, which is often preventable.

awec · 03-01-2013 8:37pm

Daftendirekt wrote: »

? The fact that obesity is preventable and curable is beside the point.

Er, that's EXACTLY the point. It seems the point is going way over your head.

Obesity is not only preventable but it is curable. Hence why it is targeted. You can often fix it without even needing medication!

Comparisons with MD or diabetes are total nonsense.

03-01-2013 8:38pm

What the **** does obesity have to do with claiming benefits? What a load of bull****. Also if it's the NHS budget they're trying to save on then why not target working families since they make up the majority? Reduce their tax credits or charge them extra tax if they drive to work. There's no logic behind the idea at all.

awec · 03-01-2013 8:39pm

Deleted User wrote: »

What the **** does obesity have to do with claiming benefits? What a load of bull****. Also if it's the NHS budget they're trying to save on then why not target working families since they make up the majority? Reduce their tax credits or charge them extra tax if they drive to work. There's no logic behind the idea at all.

If your weight affects your ability to work you get benefits. That's what it has to do with it

Why target people who work? Why target those who contribute? Why not target those who don't contribute?

Daftendirekt · 03-01-2013 8:40pm

awec wrote: »

Er, that's EXACTLY the point. It seems the point is going way over your head.

Obesity is not only preventable but it is curable. Hence why it is targeted. You can often fix it without even needing medication!

Comparisons with MD or diabetes are total nonsense.

Fair enough, I get where you're coming from now.

03-01-2013 8:41pm

awec wrote: »

If your weight affects your ability to work you get benefits. That's what it has to do with it.

How many cases are there of that? Other than the people who are at the stage that they can't exercise and need to have a wall removed from their house how many people can't find work because of obesity?

awec · 03-01-2013 8:41pm

Deleted User wrote: »

How many cases are there of that? Other than the people who are at the stage that they can't exercise and need to have a wall removed from their house how many people can't find work because of obesity?

Plenty.

You don't need to be at wall-removal stage of obesity to be able to say you can't work.

03-01-2013 8:43pm

awec wrote: »

Plenty.

You don't need to be at wall-removal stage of obesity to be able to say you can't work.

Got a link to any guidelines? I'm pretty extremely obese but it doesn't get me out of cleaning out guttering or helping mates put up fences.

MagicMarker · 03-01-2013 8:46pm

Utterly retarded idea, people can exercise all they want but it's not going to help one bit if they're eating a burger and chips every night.

the_syco · 03-01-2013 8:47pm

Sounds like a great idea. The benefits are leverage to get obese people to eat healthier and do some exercise as opposed to taking meds and doing sweet f**k all at home. In the long term, they'll live a better life, and won't need the state to nanny them as much when they get older.

krudler · 03-01-2013 8:47pm

Daftendirekt wrote: »

Right, maybe muscular dystrophy was a bad example. Point still stands for diabetes though, which is often preventable.

wtf, so if someone contracts diabetes, no free insulin for you, its preventable. what tosh.

awec · 03-01-2013 8:49pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Got a link to any guidelines? I'm pretty extremely obese but it doesn't get me out of cleaning out guttering or helping mates put up fences.

Fair play to you. Do you clean gutters and put up fences every day though?

Obesity benefits cut for refusal to exercise

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