Don't hate on me, but the weight lost has never been a problem for me. It's actually been just the opposite in my whole life. I always wanted to gain weight because I was so tall and thin, which isn't really appealing as a man. Or I didn't think so. So I have a totally different view of weight than most people. But it doesn't mean I can't appreciate your struggle which is why I'm writing this new for 2020 HealthyWage review below. It may be the answer to your weight lost struggle and make you some money in the process.
What is HealthyWage?
HealthyWage located at www.HealthyWage.com offers people the opportunity to earn cash for losing weight. Earn cash for losing weight? You're probably scratching your head right about now, in disbelief, but you read it right. Founded in 2009 with its office based in New York, the objective of HealthyWage is to provide “innovative ways to have a measurable impact on the growing obesity epidemic and help get people moving.” So they use “cash prizes to make weight loss and fitness more fun and effective!”
But it's not just about the individual, as HealthyWage also specializes in challenges for large public- and private-sector employers and other organizations throughout the U.S. and around the world. So let's check this out and see how it works. Even if weight loss is not your thing, you just might want to keep reading to see how you can benefit.
How Does HealthyWage work?
This is actually very interesting. The premise of cash for weight loss and fitness is based on research. The founders of HealthyWage got excited about research from Harvard, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pennsylvania, that suggested a relationship between weight loss and cash incentives. Research findings suggest that even a small amount of cash rewards “can increase the effectiveness of weight loss and step programs.” More so, if your own money is at risk. Makes sense, since you wouldn't want to lose your hard earned cash.
Capitalizing on these little research nuggets HealthyWage.com allows you to make a personalized bet or as they put it, “a healthy wager,” on your weight loss. Using the prize calculator located on the site, you can make your bet and calculate the prize you'd like to earn for your weight loss. If you reach your goal within the allotted time frame, Healthy Wage will pay you the projected winnings.
How to earn money with HealthyWage?
The Healthy Wager
You can win up to $10,000 and more in an individual weight loss bet. Your winnings depend on how much you are willing to bet on yourself. If you feel confident that you would actually accomplish your weight loss goal then by all means, get your betting on.
Boost your prize money
You can boost your prize money referring your friends and family to the program. You'll get an $80 prize boost for each friend you refer, after the first one. That means if you had 50 of your friends/family sign up, you'll $80 for 49 of them. Not too shabby. Assuming you have that many friends that sign up, that may add a whopping $3920 to your existing prize money.
Jackpot and Step Challenges
Individuals and teams try to achieve specific weight loss goals or steps to earn a share of the jackpot.
Team Challenge
You can also compete and earn as a member of a team. A team is limited to five members and the first prize is $10,000.
Affiliate program
HealthyWage also has an affiliate program you can make money with. You can earn $60 for each HealthyWager sign up you generate, or $40 for each Team Challenge. When you think about it, this could add up to be a hefty chunk of change. If you're not sure how to capitalize on this, then you may want to check out my Top Free Work At Home Recommendation which teaches you how to make money with affiliate marketing.
How Does HealthyWage Pay Me?
You can collect your winnings via check or PayPal (your choice). You get paid in as little as 12 hours after you win, once there is nothing to investigate or verify. If their referees determine that your case requires additional investigation, the review process can take longer and so would your payment.
How to get started with HealthyWage?
Visit HealthyWage.com, click on “Calculate Prize.” Then you simply pick your weight loss goal and wager, and enter your stats. You don't have to make a commitment right there and then, but you can have a bit of fun with the calculator until you've found the right goal and prize combination you're happy with. Be sure to use your correct weight. Once you've found your combo, you can make your bet and get started. Of course your weight needs to be verified before and after the challenge ends.
How Do They Check My Weight?
You've got two super easy options to verify your weight; you can make a short weigh-in video and upload it to their website or you can download HealthyWage's mobile app (after you register) and follow the simple, on-screen instructions.
Does HealthyWage Work In All Countries?
HealthyWage is available to individuals across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico as well as, throughout Latin America, Australia, and most of Europe and Asia. However, if you are a resident of North Korea, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan and others, you may not participate unless you are participating through your employer. For example, “if you are participating through an employer, such as Halliburton, you are generally allowed to participate regardless of your location in the world.”
HealthyWage Complaints and Concerns
Okay, so this company has been in business since 2009 and in all honesty the complaints have been few and far between and nothing of substance really. Added to that, they've got an A+ rating from the BBB. Even so, let's just take a look at the pros and cons since the cons just might indicate a few things you may need to be concerned about.
Pros
Here are some of the things I like about HealthyWage.
Social support
For some people weight loss is one of the hardest things to accomplish on their own. Including elements like competition and teamwork in the program, provides a level of encouragement and social support you just might need to make your weight loss successful. The teamwork can also add a bit of fun to the process.
Setting your own targets
You can set your weight loss target in a time frame that you think is reasonable to achieve and the amount you want to spend on a monthly basis.
Participate in multiple challenges
You can participate in up to 10 challenges at once. This means that you can double-up, or even triple-up to maximize your winnings for the same weight loss!
Cons
Like any other site, there are things I don't like so here they are.
Limited income
Any income earned depends on how much you wagered on yourself to begin with. Once the challenge is over, you don't earn any additional income unless you sign up for another challenge. So this isn't something you can depend on for consistent additional income like my Top Free Work At Home Recommendation. But chances are that's not why you would join this site.
Team challenges
Creating team challenge is great because it means everyone in your team adds to the pool of money. This could mean more money for you and everyone if you guys win. But if some of your team members start dropping out, you're probably not going to meet the total team weight loss goal. Unless some of you lose way more than you expected to offset the people that dropped out. But I doubt it. So you better have some dedicated people on your team.
Can I get a refund?
While your challenge can be suspended, there are absolutely no cancellations or refunds. It's their way of preventing you from giving up on achieving your goal. No cancellations? That is a bitter pill to swallow. You know what that means don't you? If you committed for six months and at the third month you decided that you're no longer interested in losing weight, they're taking your money for the other three months anyway. So you better work it.
What happens if I don't win?
Well, you lost. Lol. Okay, just playing with you, not trying to be insensitive or anything. If you don't win your bet, your money goes to support HealthyWage, as well as the prizes for the people who win. Need I say more?
Healthy Wage FAQs
Does HealthyWage really pay out or not?
The answer is yes and no! If you achieve your weight lost goals then Healthy Wage will pay out what you were promised. But if you fail to lose the weight then the money you have put in will be used to pay future winners.
How do I get in contact HealthyWage?
If you run into any issues with HealthyWage, you have a few ways to contact them.
- You can open a support ticket here.
- You can email them at info@healthywage.com
- You can call their support line at (888) 636-3832
Do you have to pay for HealthyWage?
In order to win money with HealthyWage, you do have to pay money in the form of a “bet”on how much weight you think you'll lose. You can pay your healthywage bet all at once or once per month for as long as your challenge last.
Is HealthyWage legal?
No there are not doing anything illegal. HealthyWage is actually totally legitimate and legal. Because you actually control the outcome of the bet, it's not really gambling. So you can feel safe participating in this.
Is HealthyWage Legitimate Or a Scam?
HealthyWage is legal and legitimate. As mentioned before, they've got an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, however, there is only so much money you can make. In addition, as with anything health related, you always have to make sure you check with your doctor before you get started. But if you're looking for an opportunity to make unlimited income that you don't need your doctor's approval for, then you definitely need to check out my Top Free Work At Home Recommendation. It may provide you with the opportunity to earn multiple streams of income, and way more than one time cash prizes.
Well, that's it from me for now. I know the decision is always yours, but feel free to let me know what you think about all of this.
Until next time,
Eddy with a y
This company is a complete scam. They had no problem taking 100 dollars from my account every month for 6 months. I hit my goal. When it came time for them to pay me my winnings, they wanted me to jump through all these extra hoops before paying me out. It became clear they never planned on paying me! I did the weigh out that was required. I then had to take off for Japan for a business trip. They sent me an email requiring an additional weigh in and 10 extra steps that was everything short of the hokie pokie. I told them I could not, as I was on business in a different country. I attempted multiple times to come to a fair agreement, they said if I did not weigh in with in 3 days I would forfeit everything. Although I already lost the weight and completed their weigh out procedure! I then said, I don’t even want the winnings at this point, at the very least I want my money back, to which they refused. This company ripped me off for $600! I am looking into legal action now. Do NOT use this company unless you want your money stolen!
I am very interested in trying this. I’ll be in touch
What is this about monthly fees? And how do you weigh in or report in?
Hi Jen,
HealthyWager participants make a wager on their weight loss, quite literally putting their money where their mouth is! You decide how much you want to wager (minimum of $100 total over the life of your challenge). Our prize calculator will look at a number of personal details, which you’ll provide in step 2 of the calculator, to determine the prize that you’ll receive if you reach your goal within the time frame that you set. Your ROI will be anywhere from 11% to a whopping 300%.
As for the weight verification process, participants are required to submit a verified weigh-in at the start of the challenge and at the end. Verification is done via a video that includes certain steps. The video can either be created and submitted via our app or uploaded via our website. You can find out more about the video process and other weigh-in information here: https://www.healthywage.com/rules/video-verified-weigh-in-rules/
Please feel free to reach out to us at info@healthywage.com if you have any other questions. Thanks!
It’s nice to see a company rep here sharing information and responding to comments!
I signed up for HealthyWager a fw months ago. I can confirm that loss aversion is a huge motivator for me. I ended up choosing to put in $100/mo for 6 months because I quickly realized that losing $100 would be a mild motivator but losing $600 would leave me sick. I am over 4 months into it and have been struggling for the past month (post-vacation eating binges!) and in the past, I would have just quit. But as my deadline draws closer and closer, the thought of losing $600 has forced me off my butt and now I am firmly committed and focused again.
Hello, I read somewhere that if you do a 6 month wager and hit your goal, you have to wait an add’l 6 months to make sure you maintained your weight so it takes a year to get your reward. Is that true?
You may want to contact healthywage about this directly.
Hi CJ, that’s not true. After you submit your final verified weigh-in, verification occurs as soon as 1 day but never more then 7 days. Then, if you select PayPal for your payout method, you’ll receive the money within 3-5 days. If you select a check as your payout method, you’ll receive that in the mail within 1-3 weeks.
I am confused about the specifics of the money. I originally thought if my prize was estimated at $4,000, and I gave myself 9 months to hit my goal, my monthly payment would be $444.45 ($4,000 divided by 9)…and then if I hit my goal, they would pay me back the $4,000 plus another $4,000. But now after reading some of these comments I’m not sure if that’s right. It’s really hard to find clear info on the specifics of the payments versus potential winnings. Can anyone help? Their website does not have this info.
Hi Molly,
You choose how much you want to wager each month. Your prize includes the return of your wager + your profit amount. When you proceed through Step 2 of the Prize Calculator, you’ll see a breakdown of your ROI.
Feel free to reach out to us at info@healthywage.com if you have any other questions. Thanks!
Is a great way to move to your new life, you get to chose how much you want to bet on yourself, how much time you need to get to the weight you want to loose and how much money you`ll like to win
You get to see the exact prize you can win when you enter your actual weight and high and then you can play with the weight you want to loose the time you’ll need until you find the right bet for you
I’m all the way in. I’m working to get my healthy weigh, you can do it too. Let’s win together
How does the weight verification work. Will a document from my doctor work?
Hey Tracy, you can read their FAQS here.
My best friend and I are about to finish a 6 mo challenge to lose 30 pounds in 6 months. We started Aug 25th 2017 and we both bet $100/month – I will get a prize of $922 (a $322 profit) and she will get $1011 (a $411 profit) when we meet our goal between Feb 11th and Feb 25th. Prizes are based on age, height, BMI, time of year etc… Both of us are following the 5/2 Fast Diet (REALLY helpful) and we are also training to run a half marathon March 3rd… I have found this challenge to be a great impetus for meeting my weight loss goal – it’s definitely a win-win situation – get healthy, lose excess weight AND earn $$ – I gave up my wine budget for 6 months and will go shopping for new clothes with the winnings!!! Thanks for your great review of this company.
Thanks for sharing your experience and success with this app.
I can verify HealthyWage is not a scam. I used it a few years ago and netted me a prize of about $700. It really motivated me to stick with my program. Interestingly, the most motivating thing about it (for me) was the fear of losing the money I had bet (invested) in the program. This was even more motivating to me than winning the extra money. I knew I would be so sick and angry at myself if I lost the money I invested, which (if I remember) was around $350. They paid me promptly and I had no issues with HealthyWage.
Sadly, since then, I gained all the weight back. I’d love to go back to HealthyWage, but their rules would not allow me to use my current starting weight.
Mess with the calculator, you will find that their is a minimum wager required for the maximum NET payout. In all my calculations, there is no way I can net more than $800 on a 6 month wage to lose 50 lbs. The wager needed is $160 per month. So they say my “prize” will be $1,760, but getting my own money back is not a prize. They do it this way because saying there are 0.83-1 odds against me not making the final weigh in does not have as nice a marketing appeal. I am gonna lose the weight regardless, so I might as well get paid for it.
Hi Jason,
Your prize is the total amount of money HealthyWage pays you if you win. Your profit equals your prize minus the amount you wagered in the first place. Most HeathyWager participants focus on the prize, since that’s the total money at stake (including the profit and the amount you wagered). In other words, the prize is the amount you will win (or not) depending on whether you achieve your weight loss goal. The amount of money wagered is often an even bigger motivator than the profit, which is a principle that academics call “loss aversion.”
Whether you will have a prize of $10,000 depends on lots of factors, ranging from your BMI to the season of the year. Our algorithm is a secret, but your prize and profit are not a secret. We will always confirm with you the exact amount of prize (and profit) before you make your wager!
I just completed a 9 month personal challenge and I lost 50 pounds. I bet $25 a month. My prize was $811.16. So after my monthly fees I made $586.16. My challenge has been approved and I am just waiting for the Paypal transfer. I will be doing another bet in the very near future.
Thanks for sharing your experience Shauna!
To Christine:
I contacted them and this is what I was told. The minimum amount of time allowed to reach your weight loss goal is 6 months. If you pay your wager on a monthly basis, or in one lump sum, and you reach your goal before the 6 months are up, you are not allowed to submit the final weight figure until 2 weeks prior to the end of the 6 month period, or 2 weeks prior to the end of whatever time frame you initially selected. In regards to the payouts, the total payout is the gross amount that you receive minus your initial wager. For example, if they pay you $1,000 and you wagered $500, your net profit is $500.
So 3 questions… You pay up front or monthly your “bet”; if you win, is your “bet” money included in the wager payout or do they payout your calculated winnings plus your bet? In other words, if bet is $100 and wager winnings is calculated at $1000, do I only win $900 + my original $100; or do I get $1100 back?
2nd question: Would I benefit by investing in a Fitbit or something to participate in more challenges (per other comment made by person with a Fitbit), or is that irrelevant to making money?
Last question: Does Healthywage send out a form for tax purposes or how does it impact taxes?
Thanks so much for educating me on this opportunity!
Hi Christine,
The best thing to do is contact Healthy Wage regarding these questions. I am definitely not an expert on their plaftorm.
Hey its totally not a scam!! i did a walking challenge with my FitBit and I got paid 100 dollars immediately into my bank 🙂 Now im doing the weight loss challenge!
Thanks for agreeing with our review and sharing your experience.
Total scam. I signed up. However it was entered wrong. So they let me change it. When I saw that I hadn’t done a good bet. I tried to change again. They said no way. It wasn’t my fault that they don’t have anyone to help you set up the proper wage. It was just an awful experience and I highly recommend for people to stay away from them.
I don’t see how this is a scam. You didn’t do it right the first time and then you did it wrong again. If you weren’t sure how to set it up properly you should have emailed them first. I don’t think they did anything wrong by denying your second request when they helped you the first time.
Thanks so much for the HealthyWage review, Eddy. As a HealthyWage coach, I get to help our participants reach their goals every day, so I love to see others spreading the word.
You’re welcome. Kate. It’s great to see that folks from Healthy Wage are active on the blogs!
I must say I have never heard of anything like this before.
One thing I wonder is: What is the success rate of people participating? I mean if healthywage are going to earn on this, then more people would have to fail than succeed? Or do they have other ways of making money such as promoting health and diet products?
I don’t think their business model is based on the fact that people don’t succeed. Otherwise no one would do this and it would be bad PR for them. But I believe it’s set up so they take a portion of the pot either way. That said it would be interesting to hear the success rate.
I love it! It’s like fantasy sports, but for our fat lazy selves! I had honestly never heard of this program, although I agree that incentives tend to be more effective motivation for people. We like the carrot, not so much the stick.
I will have to check it out, and see what the wager ranges are. I need to lose some weight and this sounds like a great way to keep me on a program. People are motivated by money, plain and simple. Sure, we like to imagine our bikini bodies and future selves, but money is a more visceral, immediate trigger – so these people are absolutely onto something.
Worst case scenario, you lose the bet $, but still also lose some weight. can’t be that bad!
I’m glad you see the potential in this. I love the fantasy sports analogy. lol
Exactly Penelope, don’t go into it thinking it’s a get rich plan, you do it for your health, right.
I just came across this site myself and was thinking about doing it, but googled it to see if it was legitimate.
Just curious, if you are still out there, how did your weight loss go?
Hi Eddy. This looks a great project. I am in UK and have not heard of it. There doesn’t seem to be a dedicated Uk link that I could see. Will definitely do further research on this. Anyway, there’s nothing like prize money to stimulate the senses. The positive is, even if you lose, you still win, as your weight loss program and the education you get, can only be for the good. Thanks for a good post. Regards, Chris
You’re welcome Chris. I’m not sure if it is available in the UK but definitely visit their website and inquire with them.
Hey Eddy
I really enjoyed your article. I think this is a very unique way to motivate someone to lose weight.
Like you, losing weight has never really been a big problem for me. In fact I have to weigh myself regularly to be sure I am not losing too much weight.
I am sure a lot of people will be interested in this unique weight loss program.
Thanks for sharing.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s rare to find someone else that has problem actually gaining weight rather than losing it. lol
Hi there Eddy with a Y!
Thanks for creating and sharing this awesome article with us. It is appreciated.
This healthy wage idea seems awesome as the power of the group and our natural competitive nature. What is awesome about it is that it encourages people and groups of people to get healthy and lead healthy lifestyles. It’s great that people can earn a little money while lose weight. So all and all it seems like a good idea.
You’re welcome Derek,
I agree it definitely plays on some of our innate nature. Thanks for sharing your opinion.
What a great article I have never heard of healthy wage before but it sounds great. Winning money would be a great incentive for losing weight. I think I will have to have a look at this site for myself I am sure this must help loads of people to lose weight.
I’m glad it appealed to you Marie. Let us know how it turns out for you.