More obesity costs for NHS
The obesity epidemic is already costing the NHS billions, but new figures released have shown the NHS are paying companies like Weight Watchers so many obese people can join for free, reports The Telegraph.
The NHS has paid out more than £3 million to Weight Watchers and Slimming World, so that over 70,000 people have received classes for free on the recommendations of their GP, whereas those joining of their own initiative have to pay around £65.
However, more than half of those who were attending for free did not complete the 12 week course, meaning much of the money was essentially wasted.
Mark Wallace of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “It is appalling that these sums are being spent by the taxpayer while people continue to be denied essential treatment and life saving drugs by the NHS.”
Over the past two years over 20,000 people were sent to Weight Watchers or Slimming World for free, costing around £70,000.