Weight wage a wager

Perhaps the most common New Year’s resolution has to do with getting in shape—or more specifically, losing weight. While some abandon these resolutions long before the summer months begin, a US website is offering an added incentive to would-be fitness buffs: cash.

HealthyWage.com offers dieters $100 if they manage to reach a pre-determined weight-loss target within a given time frame. Those willing to put their own money into the program can reap larger rewards—an investment of $300 can yield more than triple that amount. The website has signed up more than 75,000 participants in the two years since its creation, and plans to reach the Canadian market this year.

The HealthyWage model is borne out by some research into incentive-motivated weight loss, and it isn’t the first institution to link addressing health issues to gaining rewards. However, this particular combination seems fraught with risks.

The HealthyWage plan doesn’t appear to ensure that an individual adopts a healthy plan to lose weight. While the website partners with established gyms and fitness centres, the weight targets it measures are simply confirmed at the beginning and ending of the target period by a doctor or at an accredited location—the weight loss doesn’t have to be monitored by an expert. 

Furthermore, the targets are determined by using Body Mass Index, a hard-and-fast measurement that isn’t accurate for every individual.

For an individual in average health and average shape simply looking to shed a few pounds, the HealthyWage program might provide the right incentive to inspire lasting change.

However, it’s likely that a program like HealthyWage might motivate an individual to use risky or drastic measures in order to hit a target weight.

This isn’t just dangerous, it’s counter-productive, as it doesn’t ensure that the individual maintains a healthy bodyweight or lifestyle after completing the program. 

In order for the HealthWage plan to work ideally, it would have to ensure healthy and safe weight loss. This would have to include an emphasis on stable eating habits to protect against post-regiment weight gain, as well as monitoring pre-existing medical conditions, which might be aggravated by certain types of exercise or pound-shedding activities.

It’s irresponsible to tempt people who require serious support and structure with the distant promise of quick cash. A healthy lifestyle isn’t simply about losing weight by any means necessary.

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