Free!

Hampshire County Council is funding free Weight Watchers membership with taxpayer money. As a personal trainer and nutritionist, I have a particular interest in this issue, and from a libertarian point of view, this makes my blood boil.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for people taking care of their health and wellbeing, and I believe it's essential to encourage healthy habits. However, using taxpayer money to pay for Weight Watchers memberships is not the way to do it.

First of all, let's talk about how this distorts the market. As a private business owner, I offer my services for a fee. By giving away free memberships, the council is essentially competing with private businesses, which is not the role of government. It's not fair for taxpayers to foot the bill for some people's diet plans while others have to pay out of pocket.

But let's go deeper. What does this say about personal responsibility? I believe that it's essential for individuals to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing. The message that the council is sending is that people can't be trusted to take care of themselves, so the government has to step in and pay for their diets. It's a classic example of the nanny state mentality that plagues our society.

Furthermore, I have to question the long-term effectiveness of programmes like Weight Watchers. While they may help individuals lose weight initially, I often see clients who have regained all the weight they lost once they stopped following the programme. Sustainable and long-lasting health changes require individualised, sustainable habits that are maintained over time.

And let's not forget about the slippery slope. If the government can justify paying for Weight Watchers memberships, what's next? Free gym memberships? Free personal trainers? Where does it end?

So, Hampshire County Council, I'm sorry to say that you've missed the mark on this one. Encouraging people to be healthy is one thing, but using taxpayer money to pay for their diet plans is a step too far. Let's leave the market to sort itself out and let individuals take responsibility for their own health.

Rob Ede - Wessex Coordinator