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Make all staff exercise for an hour, says top health adviser
By Georgina Littlejohn, Evening Standard Last updated at 13:05pm on 23.10.07
Choices: Professor Julian Le Grand
A radical plan to improve the nation's health - including a workplace "exercise hour" - has been unveiled by a leading Government adviser.
New figures today show England is the fattest country in the EU. Now Professor Julian Le Grand, chairman of Health England, hopes to encourage people to improve their diets, give up smoking and exercise more.
He proposed the introduction of a smoking permit, which smokers would be required to show each time they bought tobacco. It is then their choice to go smoke free and not buy a permit.
Companies with more than 500 staff would have an " exercise hour". Employees would have to deliberately choose not to join in. The proposalsare the opposite of the Government's approach which requires people to opt in to healthy lifestyles. Instead it would be up to them to make the unhealthy choice.
In his speech to the Royal Statistical Society last night the professor, a former aide to Tony
Blair said: "It is not like banning something, it's a softer form of paternalism."
Reader views (14)
War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.
- Mike Glaser, Cincinnati, OH USA
Assuming that the above is a true account of what was said and is not some mischief making...
Is this groundhog Britain? I keep on waking up on 1 April.
A few key ingredients are missing:
We will require a Company song as well-perhaps an X factor type competition will sort this out. How about if we all wore exactly the same style of clothes with the same matching ties and neckscarves and had the same haircuts! When we arrive at work, each staff member will stand out side their managers office and greet them in unison.
What next-a permit to buy chocolate or a fizzy drink? Another tax.
I cannot believe that a professor has come up with such a ridiculous suggestion-clearly no concept of how society works. I am surprised he was not laughed off stage. You can just picture all those financial workers in the City taking time from trading, etc to do their one hour exercise.
Please start treating us with intelligence and not like some little kid that has to have a nanny for everything that we do.
- Roy, Hants
I think it's a great idea. I would love to do sports and get healthy, but I never have time, I'm stuck at my desk all day. An hour of sports a day? Count me in!
- Ali, London
These people are leftovers from the regimes of Mao, Stalin, Mussolini and Hitler. Is there any aspect of people's lives that they don't want control over? We should all be frightened, very frightened.
- R M, London, UK
If people say no, will they be reported to the Keep fit police?
Is the smoking permit so the government can get a list of all smokers so they can start targeting them?
Why do they need to have 500 employees?
Where did they find this twit, sorry I meant 'leading Government adviser'?
- Dave, Aberdeen
As all the commenters agreed, another effort from the British government to be big brother/nanny for the populace. Were these people actually elected by the people, because the people definitely don't want these things.
- Matt, London, UK
Can't wait to pull a muscle and be out on disability, thanks big gov!
- Rob, Londonderry
Simply a wonderful, community focused, idea. We all must work together, but someone must lead us and this wonderful fellow is doing his part.
- Trunk, US
Interesting approach to corporate wellness.
- Frank, Anderson, Indiana USA
Anyone else recall at the start of "1984" the part where all the proles did AM exercises at the behest of some type of aerobics group leader via monitor?
- Matt, Rochester, NY USA
After we have our "exercise hour", will the Government appointed nanny then be around to wipe our little noses? Perhaps to burp us after a meal?
The Government is hanging cameras everywhere, telling us what we can and can not wear, eat, and smoke.
When did we stop electing public servants and begin electing parents?
- Mr Adult, Austin Tx USA
Another permit, just another tax for Labour coffers, typical of this government. Don't need to have Big Daddy to watch out for me whether I eat or excercise. Maybe someone should suggest that Mr. Brown ought to be the first in the cue.
- Mrs. Turner, Kusnacht, Switzerland
I think this is a fantastic idea. It is a real struggle to get to the gym when you are working early, and then late and through your lunch hour. If it was built into the working day it would ease stress, make workers happier and increase productivity. And great for mental health, as then as soon as you are home you are free to enjoy your evening.
- Rachel, London
It'll be just like communist China, that should please the government no end. Of course, there will be one key difference, unlike in China, you can be fairly certain that no senior management - definitely including cabinet ministers - would ever have to take part in something so demeaning. Long live the revolution, power to the people!
- Andrew, Cambridge
