British Dieters Earn Nearly $3,000 to Lose Weight

Money is a known motivator, and it's no different when it comes to weight loss. But how much would it take to finally make you slim down? Would a reward of nearly $3,000 suffice? If you live in England, that's the amount of money that's up for grabs if you successfully slim down, according to the Telegraph. And when you consider that at least a third of people in the UK are considered obese or overweight, that seems it could lead to a mighty big payout.

But if it works, it could also save an astounding amount of money, too. It's estimated that without some major intervention, obesity could cost the National Health Service in England $73 billion in 2050 -- enough to bankrupt the country's entire health system. Suddenly, paying people a few thousand dollars to drastically improve an their health -- thus seriously lessening the financial burden they'll have on the system later in life -- doesn't seem all that expensive. People will have to work for the money -- £1,750 (about $3,000) is the maximum payout, and it's only available to those who lose 140 pounds or more in 21 months.

The NHS seems to be making a concerted effort to help people get healthy, but other contradictory programs are still on the table. The Daily Mail reports that the NHS still allows fast-food restaurants in hospitals, where millions are treated for diabetes, heart disease and other complications due to obesity.

Here in North America, we're still paying people to help us lose weight, and with a few exceptions, it doesn't seem to be doing us much good. Would big pay-outs for weight loss inspire you to slim down?

Paying people to slim down isn't the only way to get results -- recent reports suggest that weight loss surgery is becoming more popular by the day.