Talk about an incentive to lose weight, the British are on to something. Their new program called Pounds for Pounds pays those who are successful at hitting weight loss goals and maintaining it. Get it, lose a pound… gain a pound!
And they need it, like America, England is seeing expanding waistlines too… in fact 2 out of every 3 British adults are either obese or overweight. And it’s not just costing us money here in the states, over there obesity is costing the British healthcare system 16 billion pounds a year. Just to but that into American terms that comes out to:
$23,516,546,830! Damn is all I can say.
Though we can’t say much… here the obesity cost is closer to around $78 billion. So are the British doing to try and change their fat country? Creating dollar incentives. People can go to doctors’ offices, gyms and drug stores and there they can give a goal weight to lose… if they lose the weight they get paid. If they keep it off they get paid! Who doesn’t love money for being healthy?
You can choose to lose anywhere from 15-50 pounds and incentives range from rewards of 70 pounds to 425 pounds. The great thing about the program is that you get to decide how much weight you want to commit to lose. Set your own goals and use the tools that are provided.
What Happens Once You Sign Up?
Participates get their Weight Wins packs which helps to lay out a proper exercise (I’d love to se what it is) and a proper nutrition plan to help with the weight loss.
At your convenience hop into where you signed up and weigh in… for each pound you lose your account gets credited (as long as it’s a safe range).
At the end of the time, you pay out and if you’re right on the money for what your goal was, there is a nice little bonus.
I love this! It is a great way to get people moving but what I don’t like is what about the healthy, fit people that are walking around already. No offense but I work hard to stay healthy and I am not sure it’s cool that I get nothing for it but a crappy health insurance plan.
But at the same time, it it works then it works and overall that helps the economy and the healthy of the nation.
And it really is working.
A recent study compared their new program to Weight Watchers
These are pretty impressive statistics especially if the participants were able to maintain the weight loss and the workout programs were actually good fat burning workouts and not just suggesting people walk around the block and avoid some really important pieces like weight training and intervals.
Gotta say… Good job to the British! I am jealous and wish we had this program when I was heavier!
If you want more, here’s the original article that inspired me: Brits Pound For Pound
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m with you on this one. Sounds like a great program, but in shape people should get paid for staying in shape as well. Our health ins has bonuses for overweight people losing weight (and smokers who stop smoking) but nothing for those of us at a healthy weight maintaining it or those of us who aren’t smokers. It really doesn’t seem right.
Wow! I hadn’t actually seen those stats before. Thanks for collating them here. I have to say though that I find it difficult to comprehend that money is a better incentive than health et al to make you lose weight.