How can people be encouraged to make better health choices?

People could be given cash incentives to encourage them to give up smoking or to lose weight under proposals being considered by the health watchdog for England and Wales. Can cash incentives encourage better health choices?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11416380

no because how can they prove they are giving up what they are doing..the losing weight one for example..it's harder for some to lose weight than it is for others...what I'm more bothered about is the giving up smoking...my hubby had to give up smoking as he'd had a stroke..it was for his health..he didn't get offered any money..he had to do it by himself and it was hard..u really need to want to give up and that's the first step..how many people will say they are doing it just for the money only to say they've started up again then what..more money again the following year to make them give up again..some people will take advantage of that

I have read that people who eat unhealthily live longer! I eat meat and spuds but do not eat fruit or veg ! I am approx 11 stone in wieght(ok I have had a stroke but that was 6 years ago) I take vitamins instead of veg , oops I do eat cauliflower and broccoli but only once in a while! I drink orange juice grape juice(normally in the form of wine ) Cranberry juice Cider(apple juice and pear juice) So technically I have my 5 a day

i eat very rarely so we will have to see what happens

I agree with what Cookie posted.I had to give up smoking many years ago now because of health problems,I didn't get paid and don't think I should have.I think people should take care of their health because they want to,not because they are told or because of any payment.Hubby and I eat lots of fruit and veg We don't drink or smoke and try to keep our weight as it should be for our height,but each to their own.

I don't think throwing money at people is the way forward. Giving up smoking and losing weight is a personal choice. If a person has a good enough reason they will want to do it and if they choose not to, the only person to suffer will be themselves. Modern society seems to think money is the answer to every bliddy problem.