Flabby Brits on the dole told to see GP to help them get back to work

OBESE people on the dole should be told to see their doctor to help get them back to work, a new Government report insists.

An official review into the consequences of obesity and drug and drink addiction recommends the overweight unemployed should be directed to slimming clubs.

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Report author Dame Carol Black warned jobseekers who’ve piled on the pounds are ignored by potential bosses.

She said Job Centre staff should be trained up on how to deal with them by referring them to weight-loss meetings.

Her report said 1,600 people who claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) were recorded as disabled because of their severe obesity.

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But up to 800,000 ESA claimants had disabilities which obesity may have contributed to.

The 140 page report – published by the DWP – found as almost one in four working-age adults were obese, many were in work.

But there were less of the heavily overweight in employment than those of a normal weight and that gap soared for the severely obese.

Dame Carol said the obese were discriminated in the workplace because they were seen as “lacking willpower”.

She said women were more likely to be obese and urged ministers to investigate the effects of obesity on the working population.

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She added: “Given the potential impact of obesity, we also recommend that there is a minimum support offer that upskills Jobcentre Plus advisors on addressing obesity, and a referral pathway into local weight-management services when obesity is identified as a barrier to work.”

Downing Street welcomed the report but distanced the government from making any benefit sanctions against the disabled.

The PM’s official spokesman said: “We want to support people suffering from long term conditions back into work. Dame Carol’s work is an important contribution to that.

“Dame Carol makes no recommendation about the seeking of advice being compulsory.

“Withdrawing benefits from people because of their obesity is not under consideration.

“During the review, it became clear that mandated treatment leads to people hiding.”