Health bosses are calling for volunteers to take part in a trial that pays obese people to lose weight.
NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent said hundreds of people stood to earn rewards from £70 up to £425 for meeting their personal weight loss targets.
Claire Martin, public health specialist for the primary care trust (PCT), said: “Achieving a healthier weight and encouraging people to choose a healthier lifestyle are major issues for the health service.
“This scheme will be ideal for people who have tried to lose weight before but have found it difficult to make progress.
“We hope this trial will help establish whether financial incentives can motivate people to shed the pounds – and keep them off. This is their chance to be one of the first and make the east Kent wide programme a success.
“In an earlier trial, this scheme particularly appealed to men who are usually less keen to join weight loss groups.”
The PCT said it needed 300 volunteers and the amount of cash grows as targets become more challenging in the first public trial by the NHS of a weight loss incentive scheme.
If you want to take part in the trial visit www.nhsweightlosstrial.com or call the helpline on 0800 849 4000.
POSTED: 14/01/2009 11:18:45
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