Shine OnCould daily motivational texts from your city help you lose weight?
"Use the stairs more."
"Eat fruit and veg."
"Keep a check on snacks and drinks."
Also see: Just how much does one fast-food meal affect your BMI?
If you received these kinds of text messages daily, would it help you lose weight?
A U.K. city recently announced its plans to text obese residents with daily motivational messages to help them lose weight, reports BBC.
Roughly 70,000 adults in Stoke-on-Trent (situated roughly halfway between Birmingham and Manchester) are considered obese. The 10-week texting project will be available to the first 500 people who sign up and will cost the city approximately $18,000 Cdn.
Also see: The most fattening restaurant food will surprise you
The council believes this approach will eventually save the city money that would otherwise go to health care costs for obese people.
“On average it costs the same amount to perform just one intervention operation to help people manage their weight,” says Cabinet health member Adrian Knapper. “Our programme means people who already want to lose weight and have signed up with us to get support will receive a cheap and effective nudge to help keep them motivated.”
However, not all city councillors fully support the program.
Also see: Four healthy ways to combat bloating
“If the money went to community groups it could be used to support people losing weight but also for other projects,” says conservative councillor Abi Brown. “The money could just be used more fruitfully.”
Debates on the best approach to tackling the global obesity epidemic are increasing as cities and national governments find unique ways of combating the public health crisis.
Past strategies have included everything from higher taxes on junk food, calorie counts on restaurant menus, banning super-sized sugary drinks, better nutrition labels and even promoting insect consumption.
Also see: 15 problems only vegetarians understand
You tell us: What's the most effective way to combat the obesity epidemic?
