Research indicates that dieters given a financial incentive to lose weight are nearly five times as likely to meet their goal when compared with dieters who have no potential monetary reward. That's why companies, in an effort to cut overall health care costs, have started offering everything from gift cards to cruises to employees who shed excess pounds. And the trend is now extending to the general public as a new website, HealthyWage.com teams with corporate sponsors to give cash prizes to obese participants who drop enough weight in a year.
Members can sign up for free (according to a company rep, Jan. 20 is the last day to enter the 2010 challenge) and win $100, or up the stakes to $1,000 by putting $300 of their own money on the line. HealthyWage refers to this as super-sizing, and it's the one instance in which such an option might actually be good for you.