Obese children getting free gym memberships

South Korea has seen the obesity rate of children triple in the last three years, and the country isn't content to sit back and watch that number grow along with the children's waistlines. The country is planning to offer money to schools whose students' BMI indicate obesity.

The students won't be able to use that money for more sweets. Instead, the schools will give the students vouchers that can only be used in particular places, like, apparently, the gym.

You might wonder why the government wants to pay schools with unhealthily heavy students -- I know I did. According to the ministry, childhood obesity-related costs to the government and the economy in 2006 were $2 trillion (yes, with a "t"), so giving the schools money to fight this trend is truly cost effective. What do you think?