HealthyWage works by letting you bet your own money that you'll hit a weight loss goal by a set date: you contribute an amount, weigh in during the challenge, and win a bigger prize if you reach the goal. The part people skip is the downside, which HealthyWage itself admits: people sometimes lose their bet, and that's part of how it makes money.
HealthyWage gets described as an app that pays you to lose weight, which is true only if you win. It's a set of cash challenges where your own money is on the line, built on the idea that the fear of losing it keeps you going. Here's exactly how it works, from HealthyWage's own website, including the parts its adverts don't lead with.
The two main HealthyWage challenges
| Challenge | How it works |
|---|---|
| HealthyWager | You set your own weight loss goal and timeframe, choose how much to contribute, and win a prize if you meet the goal |
| Team Challenge | A three-month challenge where teams of five compete; the team losing the greatest percentage of weight wins, with prizes for first, second and third place |
HealthyWage says you can take part in one challenge or several at the same time.
How a HealthyWager bet works
- Use HealthyWage's calculator to enter your goal.
- Adjust your goal weight, how much you'll contribute and how long you expect it to take; each change alters the prize.
- Choose a prize you're happy with and place your wager.
- Stay on track with weekly weigh-ins and support from other contestants.
- Meet your goal by the deadline and claim your prize.
The calculator rewards ambition: a bigger contribution, a tougher goal or a shorter timeframe raises the potential prize. That's also where the risk climbs, so set a goal you can realistically reach rather than the one with the most exciting number.
Questions to ask yourself before you bet
- Is my goal realistic for the timeframe, or am I chasing the biggest prize on the calculator?
- Could I afford to lose my whole contribution without it hurting my budget?
- Will weekly weigh-ins motivate me, or make me anxious?
- Would a team keep me going better than going solo? If so, the Team Challenge may suit me more.
- Do I know exactly when my start and end weigh-ins happen, and how to complete them?
If you can answer those honestly and still want to go ahead, you're using HealthyWage the way it's designed: as a stake that keeps you consistent.
Weight verification
HealthyWage says your weight must be verified twice: once at the start and once at the end of each challenge. Your Registration Number appears automatically on the Verify Me! form on your dashboard, below the button for entering a new weight. Treat those two weigh-ins as the official ones; they decide whether you win.
Where the prize money comes from
This is the honest bit, and to its credit HealthyWage spells it out. It says it makes money from corporate and government clients interested in weight loss, and that people sometimes lose their weight loss bet. Its FAQ adds that it's financially supported by insurers, health systems and hospitals, food companies and the government.
So winners are paid partly by organisations that value healthier people, and partly by participants who don't reach their goals. Go in knowing you could be on either side.
Paying in installments
If you choose to pay your contribution in installments rather than all at once, HealthyWage charges your account every month. Any challenge that isn't paid in full by 3 weeks before its end date has the remaining payments taken at that point. Budget for the whole amount from day one, even on a monthly plan.
Who can join
HealthyWage says it's available to residents of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico and throughout Latin America, Australia, and most of Europe and Asia. People joining through an employer can generally take part wherever they live. Unless it's through an employer, residents of countries including North Korea, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya and Sudan can't join.
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Does betting on weight loss help?
HealthyWage cites a randomized, controlled study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2008, saying people who bet were 5x more likely to hit their goal. That's HealthyWage's summary of the research, and financial motivation clearly works for some people. It can also add pressure, so if dieting has ever affected your health or wellbeing, talk to your doctor before putting money on the scales.
On security, HealthyWage says payments are handled by a third-party processor under PCI standards, with data sent over connections using 256-bit encryption.
My verdict on how HealthyWage works
HealthyWage is a commitment device, not an earning app. If a financial stake would keep you on track and you're confident in a sensible goal, it can be a useful push, and the Team Challenge adds friends to the accountability. If you're hoping for easy money, look elsewhere: the money you can win is matched by money you can lose. For earning ideas without a bet, see my guide to apps that pay you to drive and my guide to legitimate ways to make money online.
Frequently asked questions
Can you lose money on HealthyWage?
Yes. HealthyWage says people sometimes lose their weight loss bet, and that's one of the ways it makes money alongside corporate and government clients.
How does the HealthyWage Team Challenge work?
It's a three-month challenge where teams of five compete, and the team that loses the greatest percentage of weight wins.
Does HealthyWage verify your weight?
Yes, twice: once at the beginning and once at the end of your challenge.
Is HealthyWage available outside the US?
HealthyWage says it's available in the US, UK, Canada, Mexico and Latin America, Australia, and most of Europe and Asia, with some countries excluded.
What happens if I pay HealthyWage in installments?
You're charged monthly, and any amount still owed 3 weeks before the challenge ends is processed at that point.
