Financial Rewards may Help Obese Lose Weight

Providing financial incentives to obese people could be a very effective way in making them lose those extra pounds, a new study published in the Journal of Public Health reveals.

Researchers in UK observed over 400 people who had enrolled in the "pounds for pounds" initiative that offered financial benefits for those who lost weight. Nearly half of the participants were NHS employees and the average weight of the participants was 101.8kg.

At the end of the respective weight loss plans, the researchers found that nearly a quarter of the participants had lost over 10 percent of their body weight while around 44 percent lost at least five percent of their body weight.

Though less than 40 percent of the total participants underwent the complete plan, the average annual weight loss of over 5kg meant that the "pounds for pounds" initiative was more effective than other weight loss plans such as Weight Watchers.

"The successful recruitment to this programme suggests that a financial incentives weight-loss programme may be acceptable to the general public and to NHS employees, and to both men and women", University of Sheffield's Dr Clare Relton said.


Source: Medindia