Proposals by Westminster City Council to withdraw benefits from obese patients who refuse to take up exercise are not the answer, pharmacy leaders have warned.

Under the plans, patients given exercise prescriptions by GPs could have their housing and council tax benefit payments cut if they fail to lose weight or get healthy, but pharmacy leaders said a punitive approach to tackling obesity would not solve the problem.

"Singling out obese people in this pejorative way is not the answer," Numark managing director John D'Arcy told C+D.

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	"Obese people need to be incentivised to modify their behaviour. At the same time, steps need to be taken to deal with the wider causes of obesity such as the way inherently unhealthy food is promoted and sold to the public," he added.

The proposals were published last week in a report, A dose of localism: The role of councils in public health, by Westminster City Council and the think tank Local Government Information Unit. The report also suggested smart cards be used by local councils to check whether patients prescribed exercise are using gyms and leisure facilities.

Lloydspharmacy parent company Celesio UK head of pharmacy affairs Ajit Malhi said the report highlighted some valid points, but obesity needed to be handled in a "professional but nurturing manner".

"The stick approach to obesity may work but I believe that the carrot offered within pharmacy – where ongoing support, advice and tailored goals are agreed – cannot only improve health and wellbeing but also help hit public health targets," he said.

But Independent Pharmacy Federation chief executive Claire Ward said the "stick approach" would fail to deliver the health outcomes "we all want to see".

The report comes ahead of local authorities taking on public health responsibilities in April and suggested initiatives for local government to work with health and wellbeing boards and local clinical commissioning groups to support healthier lifestyles.