On the other side of the world, a good diet is worth its (lost) weight in gold.
Dubai’s government is paying people to lose weight: one gram of gold for each kilogram lost through mid-August, Newser says. That’s about $45 for 2.2 pounds.
There’s also a chance for the biggest losers to net a grand prize of a gold bar worth about $5,000, it says.
There’s no limit on payouts, The Associated Press says. That means the fattest people have both the most to lose and the most to gain. Authorities in the Gulf Arab states are increasingly alarmed by rising obesity, and this is the city’s way of dealing with it, the AP says.
In the United Arab Emirates, more than half of 5.5 million citizens are overweight or obese, The Los Angeles Times says. In the U.S., over a third of adults and about 18 percent of adolescents are obese, the Centers for Disease Control says.
Dropping 10 pounds in a month would be worth about $450. Do you think the program is a good idea? If your city offered a similar weight loss program, would you participate? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.
Add a Comment
Our Policy: We welcome relevant and respectful comments in order to foster healthy and informative discussions. All other comments may be removed. Comments with links are automatically held for moderation.