Disease Proof

Weight loss would be a lot easier if someone kicked you a sawbuck every time you dropped a few pounds. Well, one Italian town likes the idea. The mayor of Varallo Italy is paying residents who lose weight. Reuters reports:

Men living in the northwestern Italian town of Varallo will receive 50 euros ($70) for losing 4 kg (9 pounds) in a month, Mayor Gianluca Buonanno said. Women will get the same amount for shedding 3 kg (7 pounds).


If they can keep the weight off for 5 months, they will get another 200 euros ($280), he told Reuters.

"Lots of people are saying, 'I really need to lose some weight but it's really tough.' So I thought, why don't we go on a group diet?" said Buonanno, who said he was about 6 kg (13 pounds) overweight.