City sheds million pounds of fat

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People in Liverpool are being asked to collectively lose one million pounds in weight over the next 12 months.

The city-wide public health campaign is backed by footballer Jamie Carragher, Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle and Mike Bennett of St Helens rugby league team.

Anyone who signs up to the NHS scheme will be offered free gym passes and diet advice to help them lose weight.

Derek Campbell, chief executive of Liverpool PCT, said obesity was costing the Liverpool NHS more than £5m a year.

But he said the human cost was far higher.

I am confident that as a city we can achieve this Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chairman of Liverpool PCT

"Liverpool's Challenge is about encouraging people across the city to stop and think about their health and lifestyles, find out what services and activities are available to help them lead healthier lives and kick-starting what we hope will be a life-long lifestyle change," he said.

"We have pledged an additional £10m over the next three years to support not only this programme but to tackle the wider health issues surrounding people being overweight and will provide help, support and motivation to those that want it."

Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Liverpool PCT, said: "This will be the biggest health challenge of its kind that Liverpool has ever faced and is the largest ever social marketing campaign being delivered at a local level.

"To ask the people of Liverpool to collectively pledge to lose one million pounds over 12 months will be no mean feat but I am confident that as a city we can achieve this."