Paying People to Lose Weight Works

A study of 400 people who took part in a "pounds for pounds" initiative found that almost half of them lost more than 5 percent of their body weight. On average the subjects -- many of whom were NHS workers -- shed 8.8lb (4kg) in a year and were paid about $300 (£180). Researchers say it shows the scheme works as well as existing weight-loss programs. 

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

Dr. David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said he had previously been skeptical about such schemes on the grounds that patients would pile on the pounds if they stopped being paid.

But he stated that, "The evidence is pretty good -- 4kg over a year is quite good. If we are interested in health gains then this does the business."

In contrast to the traditional approach of the authorities to place high taxes on unhealthy products such as alcohol or tobacco, many new public health drives seek to reward people financially for stopping smoking or giving up drugs.

Despite some concern at the message being conveyed, pilot schemes suggest they cost the same as support groups and seem to succeed as money provides such strong motivation.

The "pounds for pounds" initiative recruited 402 people, 42.5 per cent of whom were NHS employees. Their mean age was 45.1 years, their mean starting weight was 15.8st (101.8kg) and more than half were female. The subjects were set weight-loss plans of varying lengths and then measured again at the end of them.

In total 44.8 percent achieved "clinically significant" weight loss of more than 5 percent of their body weight, with 23.6 percent losing more than 10 percent. Only 38 percent of the participants completed their plans, fewer than in existing schemes such as Weight Watchers.

But the estimated mean weight loss at 12 months of 11lb (5kg) including those who dropped out was greater than the 8.86lb (4.02kg) previously recorded in Weight Watchers trials.

Even assuming that those who dropped out returned to their original weight, the figures suggest that the overall mean weight loss for all those who took part was 8.81lb (4kg).

However patients who take weight-loss drugs or undergo gastric bypass surgery tend to lose more weight a year on.

The program paid people up to 425 pounds ($662) if they hit their weight loss target and maintained it for up to 24 months.

"If people drop out, they get nothing," said Winton Rossiter, who designed the program. "And people hate giving up money even more than they like making it."

Similar programs in the U.S. have largely flopped. An American study that examined seven employer-run programs found that the average person lost little more than a pound.