Financial Incentives Can Help Achieve Weight Loss

Do you need to get paid to get healthy?

You've heard the saying "money makes the world go 'round." Well, it also makes your weight go down. A recent study found that weight loss participants who received financial incentives were more likely to follow the assigned weight loss program strictly and, in turn, drop pounds than those who didn't receive any reward. The incentive group would receive $20 per month if they achieved the goal of losing four pounds a month. And those who failed to do so would instead need to pay $20 each month towards a bonus pool. Researchers noticed that 62 percent of the participants in the incentive group achieved the goal, while just 26 percent from the non-incentive group hit the target. "The financial incentives can improve results, and improve compliance and adherence," said Steven Driver, M.D., an internal medicine resident at Mayo Clinic. (Science World Report)

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