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Overweight people will be paid to lose weight, under radical new Government plans unveiled today to tackle the escalating obesity crisis Under the NHS-backed scheme, those who shed the pounds will be rewarded with cash or shopping vouchers. Incentives could be higher or lower depending on the amount of weight a participant loses, although the amounts are still unclear. However only those with a job will qualify - and employers will also be urged to offer incentives to staff who shed pounds. Firms would receive tax breaks from the Government and would also some funding to set up slimming or exercise classes. The move is part of a wider effort to ease the strain placed on the NHS by fat patients. More than two thirds of UK adults are clinically overweight or obese and the NHS spends £5 billion a year treating obesity-related illnesses. Under the new plans, NHS staff will also be urged to 'set a national example'. Access to unhealthy foods on NHS premises will be cut and staff will have their health and wellbeing 'measured'. Around 700,000 of the NHS's 1.3 million staff are either overweight or obese NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said earlier this year that staff must 'get our own act together' before lecturing the public on cutting down on calories. He said too many hospitals serve 'chips and burgers' to both patients and staff - and the latter face being banned from eating junk food in hospital canteens to force them to set an example to patients. | 
