Carrots (rewards) work better than sticks (a $50 fine) when encouraging people to change behavior (lose weight).
Imagine bringing joy to others by losing weight. What if losing X pounds means the person earns two free passes (one adult, one student) to a sports event or an amusement park? Publicize the program through the schools and local TV.
Let the kids cajole an overweight grandmother, aunt or father to please lose weight so that the two of them can go on a mini vacation.
Adults like to do nice things for their children. They know in their heart that losing weight means they will be healthier and more able to be there and enjoy their children and grandchildren.
Make it work two ways. Adults can cajole overweight Johnny and when Johnny loses the two go to an event. And the other way around, with children encouraging parents.
And in the spirit of the Tea Parties and keep government costs down, get business service organizations (Rotary, Lions, Moose) and philanthropists to organize and pay for the cost of the tickets. That’s a better way to go than policemen handing out $50 obesity tickets as proposed in Arizona.
DrCameronJackson@gmail.com
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Obesity could become a fineable offense, at least in Arizona.
The state’s Republican governor, Jan Brewer, wants to institute a $50 annual fine for overweight Medicaid recipients who don’t follow a physician-supervised health regime.
“Do you think a fine would motivate people to lose weight?†That’s what Boston’s Public Health Commission asked its followers via Twitter this morning.
People responded, calling the proposal “terrible†and “unfair.â€
