'I'd rather be on benefits': Woman refuses weight-loss surgery

A morbidly obese woman has caused controversy in the UK after refusing government subsidised weight loss surgery in order to continue claiming welfare.

Jodie Sinclair, 28, is so obese she cannot work or care for herself.

Living in rent-free government housing Ms Sinclair receives both a disability allowance and assistance from government carers.

The Mirror reports that Ms Sinclair’s welfare has cost British taxpayers roughly $142,000 since she began claiming nine years ago.

Despite pressure from doctors, Ms Sinclair says she doesn’t want or need weight loss surgery.

“I’m not going under the knife for anyone because I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong,” she said.

Ms Sinclair is convinced that her diet, which includes full cooked breakfast of “sausage, bacon, beans and toast” everyday, is not endangering her health.

“Doctors keep on shouting at me to lose weight but I don’t even eat that much… my cooked breakfasts are my treat.”

Instead Ms Sinclair attributes her size to water retention and says she eats a healthy diet of “potatoes and pasta, not takeaways”.

The government housing Ms Sinclair occupies with her unemployed boyfriend has also become a focus of concern for welfare workers.

“The council inspectors come round and criticise me for being too lazy to do the cleaning but I can’t do it” she said.

“I’m getting into trouble with them for keeping the place dirty. But if they want it pristine they need to get me some help.”

Ms. Sinclair is now asking for the government to provide her with a paid cleaner.