Experiment that Pays People to Lose Weight Yields Surprising Results
A weight loss group discovers that dieters aren't motivated by money after all
(PRWEB) May 18, 2010 -- In mid-March a weight loss group tried an usual experiment. It began paying its
members to lose weight instead of the other way around.
The program is the brainchild of Slimming World, the largest weight loss organization in the UK.
In order to get noticed in the crowded US weight-loss industry, it launched a program called “Pounds for
Pounds." They pay members one British pound for every pound of weight they lost. That works out to about
$1.50 per pound.
They're just past the halfway mark in their 3-month promotion and they've made a surprising discovery--money
isn't as big a motivator as they thought it would be.
“We gave members a choice,” explains Slimming World consultant Yvonne Sanders. “They could keep the cash
or donate it to a local non-profit adopted by their group. Almost every member is choosing to give the money to
charity. It's really very impressive and it says a lot about the kind of caring people we're attracting to our groups.”
Slimming World believes that this revealing experiment helps unlock the real secrets to losing weight.
“I'd tried countless diets before and I would end up losing 10 pounds, only to gain 20 back,” says Alma Hall, a
member who became a consultant after losing 40 pounds on the plan and keeping it off. “This has never felt like a
diet because I'm never hungry. In fact, I probably eat more food on this plan than I did when I wasn't dieting at all.
The secret is making it a lifestyle and surrounding yourself with others who lift you up.”
The company's philosophy is simple: fill up on healthy foods like pasta, potatoes, lean meats, fruits and
vegetables and you won't be hungry for anything else. No foods are banned under the plan. It just encourages
moderation when it comes to consuming fatty and sugary foods. There are no pills, potions or pre-made meals to
buy.
Members are also e