NHS dance classes for "fatties"!!

NHS dance classes for obese patients

Last updated at 11:17am on 3rd December 2006 Reader comments (2)

Dance classes are to be provided on the National Health Service in a bid to counter declining fitness levels and prevent a national obesity crisis.

Ministers are preparing to roll out a campaign to get people to take more exercise across England and Wales.

These will include street-dancing, tango classes and trampolining among a range of activities funded by NHS trusts.

At the same time GPs are to be issued with questionnaires to help them assess the fitness levels of those patients whose lifestyles they are concerned about, according to The Independent on Sunday.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said that a series of pilot projects around the country had demonstrated that "physical activity interventions were cost effective and saved the NHS money in the long run".

She said Public Health Minister Caroline Flint would be making an announcement on Tuesday.