Diet rewards

Diet rewards are incentives, such as cash payments, to individuals to maintain good health and wellness by a healthy diet, particularly a diet aimed at reaching a healthy weight. This has been a trend in both the US and the UK. [1] [2] [3] The Biggest Loser reality TV series increased public awareness of the idea of losing weight for cash and the importance of regular weigh-ins.

Evidence of effectiveness

Several academic studies have concluded that financial incentives are effective for producing weight loss. [4] [5] [6] The Kevin G. Volpp et al. study found that dieters with incentives were five times more likely to reach their goal. How incentives are delivered appears to play a role in their effectiveness. In a 2016 study, insurance premium adjustments as high as $550 were shown to be ineffective in driving weight loss.[7]

Organizations and programs

Direct to consumers

Among the current providers of weight loss incentives for consumers are:

  • HealthyWage (US): Pays individuals $200 for losing 10% of their weight, and up to $1,000 for reaching a healthy weight. Founded in 2009, based in New York.
  • Weigh and Win (Colorado, US): Program that pays Colorado citizens to lose weight. Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and operated by Incentahealth.
  • WeightLossWars (US): Website allows groups and individuals to set up and administer weight loss competitions, including for money. Founded in 2004, based in Texas.
  • Dietbet (US): Website that organizes weight loss competitions among friends to lose 8 lbs over 4 weeks. Founded in 2010, based in New York.
  • Fatbet.net (US): Website allows individuals to set weight loss goals and arrange bets and competitions with friends.
  • Weight Wins (UK): Provides personal incentive plans for individuals that pays them for each pound of weight loss plus a bonus for long-term success. Maximum reward £3,000 on a 24-month plan. Founded in 2008, based in London.

Providers of health and wellness incentives for consumers, including weight loss, include:

  • stickK (US): Website where individuals commit to stopping smoking, losing weight, or other personal resolutions; if they fail, they surrender money to charity. Founded in 2007, based in New York.
  • HealthRally (US): Website which permits friends to motivate one another to stop smoking, get in shape, or lose weight by pledging money and gifts. Founded in 2010, based in San Francisco.
  • Zamzee (US): An online rewards program for teens who earn credits for physical activity by wearing a personal activity meter. Founded in 2010, based in San Francisco.

For employers

Providers of weight loss incentive programs to corporate employers include:

  • Tangerine Wellness (US): Founded in 2004, based in New Hampshire.
  • Incentahealth (US): Founded in 2004, based in Denver, Colorado.
  • HealthyWage (US): Runs team weight loss competitions for companies. The team with the highest percentage weight loss wins, and gets $10,000. Founded in 2009, based in New York.
  • Weight Wins (UK): Provides personal incentive plans via employers.

Providers of health incentive programs to corporate employers include:

  • PruHealth (Vitality program) (UK): Private medical insurer that rewards clients’ employees for healthy behaviour with Vitality points for shopping.
  • RedBrick Health (US)
  • VAL Health (US): Runs behavioral economics based incentives for employers' existing health and wellness programs.
  • Virgin Health Miles (US): Part of the Virgin Group.

See also

References
  1. Sayre, Carolyn (January 4, 2010). "A New Weight-Loss Plan: Getting Paid to Shed Pounds". Time. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  2. Rosenberg, Tina (November 15, 2011). "For Weight Loss, a Recipe of Teamwork and Trust". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  3. Owens, Claudia (December 27, 2012). "A Diet Plan, Lesson for Successful & Effective Recipe". Green Health Line. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  4. Finkelstein, E. A.; Linnan, L.A.; Tate, D.F.; Birken, B.E. (September 1, 2007). "A pilot study testing the effect of different levels of financial incentives on weight loss among overweight employees". Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 49 (9): 981–999. doi:10.1097/JOM.0b013e31813c6dcb. ISSN 1076-2752. PMID 17848854. S2CID 40198779.
  5. Volpp, Kevin G; Leslie K John; Andrea B Troxel; Laurie Norton; Jennifer Fassbender; George Loewenstein (October 12, 2008). "Financial Incentive-Based Approaches for Weight Loss A Randomized Trial". JAMA. 300 (22): 2631–2637. doi:10.1001/jama.2008.804. ISSN 0098-7484. PMC 3583583. PMID 19066383.
  6. Relton, Clare; Mark Strong; Jessica Li (January 12, 2011). "The 'Pounds for Pounds' Weight Loss Financial Incentive Scheme: An Evaluation of a Pilot in NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent". Journal of Public Health. 33 (4): 536–542. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdr030. ISSN 1741-3842. PMID 21447522.
  7. Patel, M.S.; Asch, D.A.; Troxel, A.B.; Fletcher, M. (January 1, 2016). "Premium-Based Financial Incentives Did Not Promote Workplace Weight Loss In A 2013–15 Study". Health Affairs. 35 (1): 71–79. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0945. ISSN 0278-2715. PMID 26733703.
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