diet rewards
{{Short description|Incentive program to help participants achieve and maintain a healthy weight}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2021}}
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.
{{Cite magazine
| last = Sayre
| first = Carolyn
| title = A New Weight-Loss Plan: Getting Paid to Shed Pounds
| magazine = Time
| accessdate = 2012-05-27
| url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1952309,00.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110711141331/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1952309,00.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = July 11, 2011
| date=2010-01-04
}}
{{Cite news
| last = Rosenberg
| first = Tina
| title = For Weight Loss, a Recipe of Teamwork and Trust
| work = The New York Times
| accessdate = 2012-05-27
| url = http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/for-weight-loss-a-recipe-of-teamwork-and-trust/
| date=2011-11-15
}}
| last = Owens
| first = Claudia
| title = A Diet Plan, Lesson for Successful & Effective Recipe
| work = Green Health Line
| accessdate = 2012-05-27
| url = https://www.greenhealthline.com/14-health-benefits-of-beetroot-new-research/
| date = 2012-12-27
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151117025002/https://www.greenhealthline.com/14-health-benefits-of-beetroot-new-research/
| archive-date = 2015-11-17
| url-status = dead
}}
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.
{{Cite journal
| doi = 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31813c6dcb
| pmid = 17848854
| issn = 1076-2752
| volume = 49
| issue = 9
| pages = 981–999
| last = Finkelstein
| first = E. A.
|author2=Linnan, L.A. |author3=Tate, D.F. |author4=Birken, B.E.
| title = A pilot study testing the effect of different levels of financial incentives on weight loss among overweight employees
| journal = Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
| date = 2007-09-01
| s2cid = 40198779
}}
{{Cite journal
| doi = 10.1001/jama.2008.804
| pmid = 19066383
| issn = 0098-7484
| volume = 300
| issue = 22
| pages = 2631–2637
| last = Volpp
| first = Kevin G
|author2=Leslie K John |author3=Andrea B Troxel|author3-link=Andrea Troxel |author4=Laurie Norton |author5=Jennifer Fassbender |author6=George Loewenstein
| title = Financial Incentive-Based Approaches for Weight Loss A Randomized Trial
| journal = JAMA
| date = 2008-10-12
| pmc = 3583583
}}
{{Cite journal
| doi = 10.1093/pubmed/fdr030
| pmid = 21447522
| issn = 1741-3842
| volume = 33
| issue = 4
| pages = 536–542
| last = Relton
| first = Clare
|author2=Mark Strong |author3=Jessica Li
| title = The 'Pounds for Pounds' Weight Loss Financial Incentive Scheme: An Evaluation of a Pilot in NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent
| journal = Journal of Public Health
| date = 2011-01-12
| doi-access = free
}}
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.
{{Cite journal
| doi = 10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0945
| pmid = 26733703
| issn = 0278-2715
| volume = 35
| issue = 1
| pages = 71–79
| last = Patel
| first = M.S.
|author2=Asch, D.A. |author3=Troxel, A.B.|author3-link=Andrea Troxel |author4=Fletcher, M.
| title = Premium-Based Financial Incentives Did Not Promote Workplace Weight Loss In A 2013–15 Study
| journal = Health Affairs
| date = 2016-01-01
}}
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
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