Report Recommends ‘Diet Police’ in U.K. to Monitor What People Eat
- Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:46am by
Liz Klimas
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A report released today by 2020Health, a think tank in the U.K., suggests that the private sector could save money it is currently losing from a “sick note culture” if “health and safety inspectors” were given an increased role in educating employees on healthy lifestyles.
The Telegraph sums it up: “Council inspectors should start monitoring what private sector employees eat at work in order to help improve the country’s health and to reduce sickness rates, a report has concluded.”
It has more:
The report recommended the role of council “diet police” be increased to offer advice to the private sector. The authors said the proposals in the report, released today, would help reduce the “sick note culture”.
The suggestion is likely to lead to claims of more “meddling” from council inspectors.
Latest figures show that up to 3 percent of the active workforce is off sick at any one time. About 175 million working days are lost each year due to ill health, costing the economy more than £100 billion.
Here are a few bullet points from the report, which can be downloaded here:
- Expanding the role of Local Authority health and safety inspectors to provide information on employee health, such as diet, the importance of exercise, and workstation setup.
- Creating a new position of regional occupational health director, who could work alongside the regional public health director in local government. This would ensure continuity in enabling the public health agenda to be delivered through the workplace.
- Considering a statutory reqirement that PHDs produce an independent annual report on the health of the local population, and that this report should take into account employment issues.
In addition to giving a role to so called “diet police,” the report details the importance of making it easier for those who are sick to work from home and helping those recovering to get back into the workforce. The Telegraph reports the Prime Minister David Cameron as saying earlier this year that doctors should be more limited in their power to take people out of work for long periods of time:
“‘Of course some of these people genuinely can’t work, and we must support them. That’s only fair,” the Prime Minister said.
“But it’s also fair that those who can return to work should be supported to do so. We need to end the something for nothing culture.
“‘While 90 percent of sickness cases are short-term – that stomach bug or flu that we all suffer from occasionally – nearly half of all days lost to sickness absence are because of cases that last four weeks or more.”
Ministers believe that about one in five of those who are absent on long-term sick leave should either never have been signed off in the first place or could go back to work.
These recommendations come on the heels of another 2020Health report released last month about healthcare fraud costing as much as £3 billion per year. This fraud included doctors charging patients for procedures they don’t need and misuse of prescription medications, among others. The organization believes addressing the sencould help save money and improve employee
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Comments (59)
garylee123
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:41pmOh bloody hell!!
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 1:57pmWhat a load of boll0cks!
Report Post »JRook
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 3:14pmTypical side show regarding health and diet that prevents people from actually looking at what processed food companies put into food and why. And a more intelligent discussion regarding some healthier alternatives that could be used that would go virtually unnoticed. Certainly a better use of money to improve the overall health of the population than keep pouring $billions down the drain in lifestyle related disease treatments. But of course we have an illness system, not a health system. Not a lot of money to be made off of healthy people.
Report Post »marcellucci
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:33pm“…Council inspectors should start monitoring what private sector employees eat at work …….”
See? No problem here…..this is the UK….there are no Private sector employees……
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 2:24pmAhhh MARCELLUCCI, but soon it will be coming here as well. The Power of a Progressive Socialist movement. I am going to McDonalds right now for a 680 calorie large Carmel Frappes while I still can.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:26pmGolden Rule: He who has the gold makes the rules.
Take government money, government health care, they will start making rules for you.
Doesn’t matter that we originally gave the bureau/techno-crats that money, they still regard it as ‘their’ money.
Report Post »Blazer123
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:26pmdon‘t take Glenn’s french fries!
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 5:10pmDon’t get between Moochelle and a Burrito.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:15pmGod, Guns, Smoking, and now Food. When is the Nanny going to tell us all not to drink Booze? OH WAIT! The poloticians, either side of the “pond”, are a bunch of drunks. Can’t regulate that! Here’s my thinking: Take my God, NO. Take my Guns, NO, I can’t smoke, NO. Tell me what I can and cannot eat, NO. Guess if they come for all of the above I’ll still have my Booze. Naw, I’d defend the first three with my life, if needs be. Then I‘d give a toast to the Nanny’s demise with Booze! I pee in their general direction!
Report Post »Tom K
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:06pmOkay, when Barry is kicked out of the White House in 2012, we will send him and Michelle over to England and she can be the “ Chief of the Diet Police ”. Michelle, you have about a year to reduce the size of your big butt !
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:20pmIF we manage to get him out of office in 2012 and keep Hillary out as well; otherwise this will be a new policy for Obama as well to implement.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:58pmBreaking News:
President and Mrs. Obama lauded the recent report issued by Britain’s 2020Health group. The president has instructed his staff to find a way to “even if we have to go around congress” immediately implement a similar Diet Police program in the United States.
The president has expressed he will support “stiff fines & mandatory government approved healthy food education programs” for citizens who are suspected of refusing to follow the program or sneaking unauthorized food. He also supports an automatic 3 year incarceration at a federal farming commune for anyone suspected of operating, participating in or purchasing from a food “black market”. The president quipped “I know it seems a stiff penalty but by their release date these Americans will have received on the job training & achieved physical fitness from the hours spent working in the fields. By using free labor our food production costs will be cut dramatically.”
In today’s speech at the Broccoli Growers of America National Convention, the First Lady stated:
“It is the government’s duty to decide what our citizens may eat. Most Americans do not know what is best for them, especially those who cling to their Bibles and their guns. We have a responsibility to convince them we know what’s best for them.”
“In return for your support of this initiative, the president will ensure that broccoli will be a daily requirement. The president is prepared to p
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 1:24pm“In return for your support of this initiative, the president will ensure that broccoli will be a daily requirement. The president is prepared to put millions of stimulus dollars into your pockets. As a bonus, we can claim this initiative will provide thousands of shovel ready jobs. But – this can only happen if my husband is re-elected in the 2012 election. Your votes & your campaign dollars are expected!”
“I am 100% committed to this program and have instructed my staff to arrange for me to speak to as many food producing groups that my vacation schedule will allow.”
Report Post »deleeuw
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:00pmOf course, this will lead to “life inspectors”, where the State will have complete access to everything you do, “just to make sure you’re safe and healthy”, and anything that might adversely affect your health, such as owning a gun or reading the Bible, will be “addressed”. All this will be possible by inserting a biochip into everyone via inoculations “encouraged” by the State, “to fight off flu” or some such disease du jour — and our children will be forced to get said “inoculation”.
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:40pmThat is, if we have the proper permits to have children.
2+2=5
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:00pmYo England make sure you watch the Queen and her family… cause here.. the Obama’s try to tell us what to eat and then turn around and eat what they tell us not to!! Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.. Idiots!
Report Post »handsoffmystuff
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:59amHere’s a crazy idea ….
“If a man shall not work, he shall not eat.” I remember reading that somewhere …
Report Post »deleeuw
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:58amAnd if your diet is “not appropriate” as per these inspectors, then what? Curtailling of your health care benefits, or maybe a “fat” fine?
Of course, this will lead to “life inspectors”, where the State will have complete access to everything you do, “just to make sure you’re safe and healthy”, and anything that might adversely affect your health, such as owning a gun or reading the Bible, will be “addressed”. All this will be possible by inserting a biochip into everyone via inoculations “encouraged” by the State, “to fight off flu” or some such disease du jour — and our children will be forced to get said “inoculation”.
Yea, it’s paranoid, but look how far we’ve descended just in the past few years!
Report Post »perry1980
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:54amThe food police are coming to America thanks to Michelle Obama.
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:48amThis is where we’re heading. I believe they would put monitors in our commodes if they thought they could get away with it…that would analyze our waste and limit the amount of toilet paper we are allowed to use. There is no limit to what the government wants to do.
Report Post »amerbur
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:43amHow much would all this monitoring cost. I think the goverment should require that all people who are on medication for depression, bipolar, ADHD, or are going to AA, have been recently divorced, anyone charged with physical abuse, drunk driving, should be monitored to make sure they are going to counceling and are taking behavior modification classess. All those who frequent porn and sleep around with multiple partners increasing risk of unwanted pregnancies, STDs and mental illness. They should be publically ridiculed for causing so much suffering in our society and for increasing the cost of health care, discussed on daily shows so we can educate them on how they should live their lives to prevent these conditions in the first place. They should have to pay more because they are costing society. Fat people are the scapegoat of our society because they can be visually identified. There are hundreds of other conditions that cost society. I have never been hospitalized, I rarely go to the Dr., I never miss a day of work, have raised and educated two children who are now leading healthy productive lives and paying taxes. I think I will begin conducting studies to see what behaviors really cost society more and start a coding system. We can tatoo the head of the person to identify the afliction so all will know that this person is a cost to our society. Think how you would feel if you had your weakness tatooed on on your head for people to ridicule.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:39amsuggests that the private sector could save money it is currently losing from a “sick note culture” if “health and safety inspectors” were given an increased role in educating employees on healthy lifestyles
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If your economy is in such bad shape that you need to worry about people calling out sick you have much bigger problems and you’re focusing in the wrong area. Talk about a reason for small government here’s another one.
Report Post »last frontier
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:32amNo worries they dont have enough money left to see the program through.
Report Post »momsense
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:31amOn it’s way to employers near you, if Obozo has his way.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:37amOnly if we let it.
Report Post »Mikev5
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:22amWhat I see is there will come a time that if you let yourself get fat and out of shape you will not get your government healthcare why? You didn’t conform to the standards you consumed too much meat too much fat so you don’t get your Government healthcare.
Everything Obama has done is just like what communist China did after WW2 your life is owned and used by the Government you must conform or die.
When they control the money the guide lines to live by and the process you are doomed
Report Post »HuskerDave
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:18amSince when does the government have the foggiest idea what is healthy to eat? The ridiculous nutricional guidelines from the FDA has more to do with promoting failed FDR-era farming policies than with actual health.
Give up the whole grains, the high-carbohydrate root vegetables, and the milk. After all, that‘s what we feed cattle we’re fattening up for market. Get back to the food our bodies are designed to eat – meat and leafy veggies.
While we’re at it – get rid of the nanny government policies. Not only are they worse for you than high-fructose corn syrup, they don’t pass the test of constitutionally-mandated limited government.
Report Post »edcoil
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:24am“Since when does the government have the foggiest idea what is healthy to eat?”
It doesn’t. Government exists simply to expand government. Does not matter if successful or not or, what it does to the non-government surfs.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:15amMrs.. Obama is probably jealous and already planning to recommend something similar if Pres. Obama gets a second term. She would love to have the government control what we eat as long as she and her family don’t have to follow the rules.
Report Post »Centralsville
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:07amOnce the government runs your healthcare they own you. This is what happens to a country when feminism gets too much power. The government becomes your mommy. Your mommy will tell you what you can and can’t eat. She only wants what’s best for you.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:58amIf Obamacare gets implemented here, I’m sure the same thing will happen. When they start taking charge of your health, they think they can run your life for you.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:55amI can’t believe it…LOL. Their whole economy is falling apart and they STILL continue the stupid socialist tactics. I guess you have to go all the way to the bottom before you can climb back up.
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:20amThis has nothing to do with health and ALL to do about CONTROL.
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:55amUh oh………………no more Fish and Chips……………now it will be Poached Fish and Boiled Potatoes…………………..eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:50amThose silly Brits…. They might wanna start by monitoring their Oral Health !!! Goodness gracious , they have awful teeth….. What is up with that ?
Report Post »JustMel71
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:57amThank you, this made me laugh so hard I nearly spat my coffee onto my laptop.
Maybe the food police could make them chew on some rawhide doggy treats their oral hygiene would improve.
Report Post »eyestoseeearstohear
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:09amHillarious!
Report Post »texasfireguy
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 11:59amI believe the bad teeth has something to do with govt healthcare. Everything is rationed and elective ‘cosmetic’ dental procedures are deemed uneccesary. Not sure if that is 100% true, but that’s what I heard somewhere.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:47amMichelle must have tingles
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 10:58amROFL….now that’s funny
Report Post »Student164
Posted on December 5, 2011 at 12:00pmHahahahah
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