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You've seen the ads featuring health guru Jillian Michaels. HealthyWager claims not to be a gambling site despite its name (the domain is HealthyWage.com, without the "r", which can be a little confusing). The site is available and claims to be legal in all U.S. states and territories.
"Although we use the word 'bet' to explain the concept, HealthyWager isn’t gambling in the legal sense because you are in control of the outcome at all times. It's up to you to lose the weight," the company proclaims.
Michaels says; “HealthyWager is the ultimate solution. It uses psychology and cash prizes to provide the structure and motivation you need to succeed.”
It is a weight loss challenge that offers the chance to win up to $10,000.
HealthyWager allows you to place a "bet" on your weight loss. At registration, you lay down your wager with play that can be done all at once or a single time per month for the duration of your challenge. The company pays your prize if you have achieved and maintained your goal at the end of the challenge. You have both your starting and ending weight verified using our verification system.
HealthyWage is considered a for-profit company that develops programming based on academic and industry research and how financial incentives as well as social network help to deliver favorable outcomes with wellness programs.
There is a $10,000 Team Challenge that lasts around 90 days and features teams of five using teamwork and tools to lose weight over the allotted period.
HealthyWage Jackpot Challenges are weight loss competitions in which individuals and teams made up of 4 to 9 participants compete to lose a set percentage of their body weight at the conclusion of the challenge.
HealthyWage Step Challenges use activity-tracking devices.
This is nothing new, even if you are only now seeing the commercials. The company was launched in 2009.
Weight-loss wagering apps are a game you can’t win, according to Olga Lexell of The Outline.
The problem is that these apps don’t actually help you lose weight over the long run, Lexell contends.
When 95 percent of dieting attempts fail, “weight wagering” looks more like tricking vulnerable people into gambling away their paycheck on a losing bet.
She acknowledges that studies have found diets have a failure rate of 95 percent or more.
One study that followed The Biggest Loser contestants six years after their weight loss showed that almost every single participant (save for one) had regained the weight and even stunted their metabolic rate to boot.
So instead of diet apps, try a sports betting site that pays out big on wins and treat yourself to a nice steak dinner.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
