Britain's cut the fat plan

Nine towns and cities have been designated "healthy towns" in Britain to combat the obesity epidemic. Here is coverage from the BBC in this youtube clip and below is coverage from The Christian Science Monitor. The article talks about "electronic tracking tags" that log how far consumers run or walk in a day, with the longer distances being rewarded with points that could give consumers points toward purchasing sports equipment, health club dues or accumulate toward a "healthy day" off. Consumers are also given extra points for eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.

I think the idea is worth exploring here in the states. For example, why can't the U.S. implement a system that rewards consumers for purchases of fruits and vegetables with "food stamp" dollars? For every fresh produce purchase, the consumer would receive a 15% discount or some other incentive scheme. Obesity isn't going away, and the U.S. government isn't trying hard enough to be creative in the ways the problem is confronted.

Why not establish a voluntary government program that would reward consumers who measure a healthy body mass index with a bonus or tax credit of $200? Why not provide a government credit for the cost of health insurance if taxpayers maintain a healthy lifestyle?

More pilot programs to fight fat - such as Britain's recent foray - must be attempted by government and by private industry. The obesity epidemic is spreading because we fail to exercise enough and continually make poor decisions about food. It is that tacit public acceptance of obesity that public health officials must try to derail with extreme prejudice.