No10’s new freebies for fitties scheme to launch in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton residents will benefit first from No10’s anti-obesity program, which rewards exercise with vouchers and cinema tickets.

FitMiles is a British scheme that will allow Brits to wear Fitbit-like devices in order to track their exercise. 

Wolverhampton’s 250,000 residents will have the ability to download this app. They will be encouraged to eat better, decrease their portions and get more exercise starting next year.

As a reward for their efforts to improve their life, points will be earned that can be used for discount coupons or vouchers.

Obesity-related illnesses cost the NHS £6billion a year and the scale of the challenge has been highlighted by Covid disproportionately affecting people who are overweight 

Announcing the pilot scheme today, Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said it will ’empower’ people to change their lifestyles for the better.

Wolverhampton residents will benefit first from No10’s anti-obesity program, which rewards exercise with vouchers and cinema tickets. [stock picture]

Today, Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid javid (pictured in London on Downing Street) announced the pilot program. He said that it would ‘enable’ people to make lifestyle changes for the better.

One in seven children are now obese when they begin primary school, compared with one in ten before Covid. One in four children are obese by the end of Year 6. This is an increase from the one-in-five figure in 2019. This graph illustrates the number of kids who are obese and overweight. 

Mr. Javid explained that this pilot offers an opportunity to explore how people can make lifestyle improvements. I encourage everyone in Wolverhampton, to get involved and to sign up. 

“Taking part in this survey will allow us to better understand the motivations behind people making small changes to their lives that have an impact on their overall health. 

“I want people to be able to make healthier choices and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities drives forward our levelling-up agenda for health in the country.

HeadUp Systems offers the opportunity to sign up for this scheme.  

The Government will offer discounts on tickets to cinemas or the theme parks, as well as shopping vouchers and vouchers for clothing and food.  

The Health Incentives Scheme was announced as part of a £10million package of Government support to help those living with obesity to move closer towards a healthier weight and give them the tools they need to maintain it.  

The Government is spending £3million on the scheme and has awarded the contract to health technology company Headup. 

This is just the latest of a series of anti-obesity measures taken by No10 over the past few months as the Government aims to reduce the country’s waistline, and the impact it has on the national budget. 

Almost two-thirds of adults in England are classified as overweight or obese, with obesity related illness costing the NHS £6billion a year.

Covid is also more prevalent in those who are obese. 

Data from the government shows that nearly eight percent of Covid-ill patients are morbidly obese; this compares to just three percent in the general population. 

Maggie Throup (Public Health Minister) said, “I look forward to seeing the pilot help us better understand what small rewards can have a large impact in helping people adopt positive lifestyle changes.”

Wolverhampton has pioneered innovative approaches to ensuring people can live longer and healthier lives. 

Councillor Ian Brookfield is the leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council. He stated: “We work hard to improve everyone’s overall health by offering innovative solutions that can help our residents become more active.

“We have already made significant progress in combating physical inactivity, improving infrastructure, and making environmental changes that will enable people to become more active.

“And we are thrilled to be working alongside the Department for Health and Social Care and HeadUp to create this pilot program to determine if incentives could help people make positive choices to improve their wellbeing.”