Getting Paid to Lose Weight

Even if it's the wrong motivation, isn't it better to get them to do SOMETHING about it? And most people, once they start getting healthy and stronger, like the feeling and want to continue.

Hey, I'm working my (slowly diminishing) butt off over here. I wouldn't mind a little something for the effort.

Everybody in that town should be considered for maintaining either their weight loss with the program (the 200 euros), OR if they are at a healthy weight to begin with, maintaining their healthy weight. It does take a few weeks to learn a new habit, so if people start exercising initially to lose the weight, they may stick with it once they get their rewards. Unfortunately, though, their real reward should be a new healthier them, not $$$$$$.

Honestly, I feel the effort I put in is to benefit me. I don't feel like society owes me anything to lose the weight because if I don't, I'll be dying young - that simple.

Extrinsic vs. intrinsic - good point, but sometimes an extrinsic reward is enough to get the ball rolling, boost confidence, and ensure momentum.

Getting paid annually to be at a lower weight is probably best ... gives something to those already fit, and helps provide motivation to those who lose to stay fit.

Motivating people to loose weight for their own benefit with money, makes no sense. The motivation for people to lose weight should come from their own Psychological perspectives. Life is not only about money.

I wonder how many people will go on a crash diet just to get the money?

I think extrinsically motivated people can BECOME intrinsically motivated over time. Many people begin an exercise plan to look better. But after a few weeks of regular exercise, they learn that physical activity also leads to lower stress, better self-esteem, more energy, etc. Thus the motivation moves from extrinsic to intrinsic. Sometimes the initial extrinsic motivation is needed to get us started on the right track... but eventually we learn the other, intangible benefits of fitness.

I agree that dropping scale weight is not the answer. It's just a number. Everyones weight fluctuates throughout the month. Promoting health, not necessarily weight loss, has a better chance of making a difference.

It seems like a good idea, but look at the situation on the Biggest Loser. The guy who won gained back 80 lbs of the 110 or whatever that he lost. The motivation on that show is definitely the money, although you'd think the contestants would also have other motivation as well. I guess it would have been nice to be getting paid when I was losing weight. All the working out I did sure did FEEL like a second job, that's for sure.

Why not offer tax credits for fitness expenses (or, even better, more free access to paths, courts, gyms, etc.)? How about reorganizing labour so people have the time to walk to work or hit the gym at the end of a day?

There are many societal answers to the problem of obesity, and euros-for-pounds seems to me a waste of money better spent on maintaining overall health, not targetting the obese to recklessly shed poundage.

An article in Corriere Della Sera has more details. My favorite detail is that the mayor plans to hire an instructor who will lead public exercises for those interested on Saturdays. The village is small - it has 7,400 inhabitants - and so this might have an impact? (I see Madrigalia's point, though - instead of weight, if they wanted to have such a program, they could base it on some other, more directly health-related metric).

The Minister of Health, Livia Turco, said "I know Varallo Sesia well. It's beautiful. I like the idea of a preventative measure against obesity. I hope other towns follow this example. One could think of something similar at the national level after this local experiment. It's an innovative and positive approach in which the village becomes the protagonist in the care of the citizens. Knowledge of the territory permits intervention with a large effect.... " Turco then talks about financing a larger campaign in collaboration with industry, the medical branch of the economy, and perhaps taxes on sugar and fat to encourage manufacturers of food to lower calories.

The more people maintaining a healthy weight, the more it will reduce long-term health costs to the community. Paying people to lose weight, however seems like such a short-term view. As commented above, why isn't that money put into health measures that will benefit the whole community? Obesity isn't the only health problem faced in western society and measures to increase physical activity and make it easier to eat a healthy diet, would have much broader social value.

Rewarding people who lose weight is a fast, measurable way to draw attention. Lowering blood pressure, cholesterol levels, etc. takes time and requires additional medications and such for some people. If you can get people motivated to lose weight, and they possibly enjoy their new selves, some of those people may actually want to maintain it. I don't care what type of program you have, some people will not be motivated to lose weight no matter what you offer. But at least they are trying SOMETHING! Give them at least that.

To Kathryn, the act of paying people to lose weight in itself is a tremendous motivating factor. Think of the idea of being paid to stay healthy.

It will have the following impact on the people:

1. Motivation: Say what you want but money is and will remain a great drive to achieve things.

2. Obesity is linked to various diseases like heart attacks, stroke,etc. By countering obesity at its root, I'm sure that more money will be saved which otherwise would have been spent on treatment, hospital care and medication.

3. The act of paying people is more effective than planning a campaign and shouting on the roofs for people to lose weight.

4. This act is creating a lot of buzz and at the same time, achieving one of its objective: to make people aware of the risks of obesity.

I reward MYSELF! Each workout I complete, I treat myself to X dollars in a separate savings account that I can use for something fun, as a reward. It's been doing the job, and I've actually even saved more than I spent. And lost a ton of weight. you should try it on your own, never mind waiting for someone else to pay you!

anything that will get people to loose can't be all bad. i wish i could get something to motivate me.

I would definitely be motivated by being paid to lose weight.

I think paying people to loose weight motivates their style. It's a good way to keep it off.

Yours Truly
rodneymelton1252@yahoo.com