Christina Briggs - I want the government to pay me to lose weight...

By Abi Simpson

Christina Briggs wants the government to pay her to lose weight.  She has had a weight problem since the age of 6, and claims up to £15 thousand in benefits every year, but insists that healthy food is too expensive.  

Ms Briggs feels that she should be given an incentive to lose weight.  For example being paid £1 for every pound she loses, or being given healthy food vouchers.  Some people may argue that living longer and being healthier should be enough of an incentive.  But is it that simple, or is the problem primarily psychological?

Currently Christina weighs 25 stone and has a BMI of 50, which has a drastic effect on day to day life, not to mention the long term issues.   She knows she has a problem and openly admits she needs help but simply doesn’t know where to get it. 

The weight gain began at just 6 years old, when she was diagnosed with epilepsy and the medication meant she put on weight more easily.  This followed by a pregnancy at 15 all contributed to her size.  

Some people will argue just eat less and exercise more, but is it really that easy.  Christina can’t afford gym memberships, and having been teased most of her life, finds it hard to go for a walk or run in public, for fear of being laughed at.  This isn’t just a psychological problem, physically she finds it difficult to pluck up the courage to even get beyond the front door.  The idea of going outside is genuinely frightening.  It becomes a vicious cycle which starts and ends with comfort eating. 

Katie Hopkins who is currently doing research into weight gain normally holds an unsympathetic view when it comes to obesity, with the harsh but fair stance of, just stop putting food into your mouth.  However in this case she seems to be more understanding, due to her recent weight gain as part of her research.  She believes a lot of the problem is psychological. 

Christina comes out with few excuses for her size, but many reasons for which to lose weight, such as being there for her children.  This is the attitude that is needed, and Katie has said that the only way you’re going to get anywhere is by admitting you have a problem in the first place, and then actually wanting to do something about it.  

Even though she wants to be there for her children in the future, does she really think she is doing them any good by feeding them frozen meals and pizza for tea every night?  Christina’s worried for her own health, and knows what she’s doing to herself, so why would she put her children through the same thing, by encouraging a poor diet?

Ms Briggs agrees with the taxpayer in that they shouldn’t have to pay for her to be able to lose weight, she doesn’t want gastric band surgery or some fancy gym membership, she just wants help and healthier food to be more widely accessible to all incomes.  She admits her initial thought of a government voucher on healthy food would not work, but a reduction in the cost of healthier food for everyone may make it easier for some people.   

It could be argued that the benefits she’s on accounts for more than enough money to do a healthy weekly shop.  Just don’t buy junk food and takeaways, buy fresh fruit and vegetables just less of it.  Is money an excuse or is healthy food genuinely too expensive? 

Weight loss is only partly about reducing your intake of food, it’s also about overcoming the psychological barriers.  You have to want to do it, you have to be determined.  There is no magic wand cure, you just have to be honest with yourself.