BEIJING, Aug. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- An Italian town is offering cash rewards to overweight residents who slim down and more money if they keep the weight off, media reported Friday.

   Gianluca Buonanno, the mayor of Varallo, a town of 7,500 in northern Italy, said "We wanted to encourage people to lose weight, and we thought that both the money and the idea of joining a group could be stimulating,"

    Participants in the week-old Varallo initiative will be given 67 U.S. dollars when they reach their ideal weight. If they don't gain any weight back after five months, they will receive 268 dollars. If they maintain their ideal weight for a year, they will get 670 dollars more.

    So far, 30 of the townsfolk have signed up, Buonanno said.

    To enroll, participants must present a medical certificate proving they are overweight. They can choose to be assisted by a dietitian, who helps determine their ideal weight, and a personal trainer.

    The prevalence of obesity in Europe has tripled in the past two decades. Half of all adults and 20 percent of all children are estimated to be overweight, the World Health Organization said. Two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese.

    The mayor said the town has set aside about 13,000 dollars for the project. It is looking for sponsors to expand the program.

    (Agencies)