Diet rewards explained

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

• Dieting
• List of diets

Notes and References

1. Sayre. Carolyn. A New Weight-Loss Plan: Getting Paid to Shed Pounds. Time. 2012-05-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20110711141331/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1952309,00.html. dead. July 11, 2011. 2010-01-04.
2. News: Rosenberg. Tina. For Weight Loss, a Recipe of Teamwork and Trust. The New York Times. 2012-05-27. 2011-11-15.
3. News: Owens. Claudia. A Diet Plan, Lesson for Successful & Effective Recipe. Green Health Line. 2012-05-27. 2012-12-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20151117025002/https://www.greenhealthline.com/14-health-benefits-of-beetroot-new-research/. 2015-11-17. dead.
4. 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31813c6dcb. 17848854. 1076-2752. 49. 9. 981–999. Finkelstein. E. A.. Linnan, L.A. . Tate, D.F. . Birken, B.E. . A pilot study testing the effect of different levels of financial incentives on weight loss among overweight employees. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2007-09-01. 40198779.
5. 10.1001/jama.2008.804. 19066383. 0098-7484. 300. 22. 2631–2637. Volpp. Kevin G. Leslie K John . Andrea B Troxel. Andrea Troxel . Laurie Norton . Jennifer Fassbender . George Loewenstein . Financial Incentive-Based Approaches for Weight Loss A Randomized Trial. JAMA. 2008-10-12. 3583583.
6. 10.1093/pubmed/fdr030. 21447522. 1741-3842. 33. 4. 536–542. Relton. Clare. Mark Strong . Jessica Li . The 'Pounds for Pounds' Weight Loss Financial Incentive Scheme: An Evaluation of a Pilot in NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent. Journal of Public Health. 2011-01-12. free.
7. 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0945. 26733703. 0278-2715. 35. 1. 71–79. Patel. M.S.. Asch, D.A. . Troxel, A.B.. Andrea Troxel . Fletcher, M. . Premium-Based Financial Incentives Did Not Promote Workplace Weight Loss In A 2013–15 Study. Health Affairs. 2016-01-01.