How HealthyWager Works
Experiment with the Prize Calculator
Experiment with the
Prize Calculator
  • 1
    Enter your stats
  • 2
    Get Prize Offers
  • 3
    Choose one and make your bet!
Get Your Weight Verified
  • Takes about 30 seconds with our mobile apps (iOS and Android)
  • Step on a scale in your own home while one of our referees watches remotely
  • On screen instructions guide you through the steps
Lose Weight
  • Make new friends
  • Use our awesome progress tracking charts
  • Exchange encouragement, tips, recipes, and more
Win!
If your weight is at or below your goal during your two week weigh-out window, you win your prize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
Should I make a HealthyWager?

If you are looking for weight loss motivation or have been struggling to develop momentum, or if you just want to add a new element of fun and accountability to your weight loss effort, then HealthyWager might be for you. Recent research strongly suggests that a bet might actually help you make a change. In one well-known study, dieters with a weight loss bet lost three times more weight than dieters without a bet. HealthyWager applies those academic principles to make you more successful at weight loss, including helping you establish a clear goal and timeframe. Sign up now!

How does it work?

HealthyWager allows you to place a "bet" on your weight loss. At registration, you lay down your bet (you can pay all at once or once per month for the duration of your challenge). We pay 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. Sign up now!

What is the most I can win?

The top prize offer is $10,000! Your prize offers will depend on how much you wager and on your personal data (e.g., your current weight). We give bigger prize offers to people who statistically have a harder time losing weight. There is no reason not to try the Prize Calculator (no commitment required) to see what kinds of prize offers you can get. Once you make your bet, your prize amount is guaranteed -- it will not change.

Do I need to have my weight verified?

Yes -- twice: once at the beginning (your challenge starts on the day you get your opening verified weigh-in), and once at the end (within two weeks before, or on, your victory date).

How do I get my weight verified?

It's super easy -- you have several options, and you can get started whenever you are ready!

  1. Download our mobile app for Apple or Android (after you register) and follow the simple, on-screen instructions to step on your own scale in the privacy of your own home [takes less than one minute];
  2. OR
  3. Make a short weigh-in video that you upload securely to our website [takes about three minutes].

Check out this page for further instructions: https://www.healthywage.com/rules/video-verified-weigh-in-rules/

Do I have to hit any monthly weight loss milestones?

No. Even if you choose to pay your wager in monthly installments (rather than all at once), your goal is the same: hit (or beat) your weight loss goal as of the end of your challenge (you can weigh out anytime during the last two weeks of your challenge). There is no official monthly weigh-in.

Where do the prize offers come from?

The calculator uses a proprietary algorithm that takes several factors into account, including your weight, your BMI, the amount you bet, the amount of time you want to lose the weight, the time of year you make your bet, and so on. We constantly fine tune the algorithm so there is no guarantee that two people with similar stats will have a similar payout. Once you make your bet, your prize amount is guaranteed -- it will not change.

The first page shows me a prize range; how do I calculate my exact prize?

Enter how much weight you want to lose, how much you are willing to wager, and the time frame for your weight loss, and then click the button to provide your specifics, such as height and weight, to complete the calculation and see your final prize amount.

How do I know HealthyWager is legitimate?

Despite years in business and rafts of press stories and reviews, we still sometimes get this question. If you have any doubts, we recommend that you take a look at the mountain of evidence we've compiled that HealthyWage is legitimate, including hundreds of articles from credible sources (e.g., CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal) -- many of the news stories contain testimonials from actual participants that reporters spoke with. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and you can see proof on the Internet that we have been around for a long time (since 2009). There comes a point when we can't do much more to prove that this is for real -- maybe you are just looking for an excuse to avoid getting started?!

What if the weight I enter in my calculation is different than my actual verified weight when I start?

Your prize offers are based on the weight amount you entered during registration. It is okay if this amount is not exactly the same as your verified weigh-in amount when you sign up, but if the two numbers are substantially different, you might hear from a referee. If you made a weight entry error, let us know so we can update your weight.

Can I participate in more than one HW challenge at once?

Absolutely, but only one HealthyWager at a time. You can participate in up to 10 HealthyWage challenges at once! So double-up, even triple-up to maximize your winnings for the same weight loss! The one exception to participating in multiple challenges is the HealthyWager personal weight loss challenge. Here's what you need to know:

  • You can only be in one HealthyWager at a time.
  • You can't start a new HealthyWager at a higher weight if you have previously won a HealthyWager.
What is the Yo-Yo Rule?

This rule only applies if, prior to starting your HealthyWager, you won a prize of $200 or more in any single HealthyWage challenge. In that case, you must start your HealthyWager at or below the weight that you ended the last challenge in which you won a prize of $200 or more. If you start your HealthyWager at a higher weight, your starting weight will later be adjusted downward to the ending weight of the last challenge in which you won a prize of at least $200. We have this rule to avoid encouraging repeat weight loss and to allow more people to take advantage of the program.


Example: Nancy won $2,000 in the team challenge with an ending weight of 200 pounds. Then Nancy gained 20 pounds and started a HealthyWager with a starting weight of 220. Her starting weight for the HealthyWager will be adjusted downward to 200 pounds because she can't start a HealthyWager with a weight that is higher than her ending weight in any challenge in which she earned $200 or more. If her HealthyWager goal was to lose 30 pounds, she will need to weigh 170 in order to win (not 190).

Am I eligible?

HealthyWage is available to adult residents of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico & throughout Latin America, Australia, and most of Europe and Asia. If you are participating through an employer, such as Halliburton, you are generally allowed to participate regardless of your location in the world. Unless you are participating through your employer, you may not participate if you are a resident of North Korea, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Burma, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan and others.

Can I participate if I am pregnant?

No, but you can sign up after you've had your baby, if your doctor says it's okay.

What if I get pregnant after I sign up?

Your challenge is suspended the moment you think you are pregnant, so just let us know. You have 60 days after reporting to supply proof of pregnancy before your challenge and payments are paused. When your doctor clears you to return, just reach back out to us and we can reset your bet.

Can I participate if I am planning to have bariatric surgery?

No. If your weight loss occurs as the result of surgical intervention of any kind, including liposuction, you will not be eligible for any prize. You may participate if your surgery was more than 1 year before your start date. Please note that HealthyWage does not take a position on whether surgery is a good idea for any particular patient-that's between you and your doctor.

Can I participate if I am on weight loss pills?

Only with advanced doctor approval.

Can I get a refund?

Part of our job is to prevent you from giving up, so you can't quit -- there are absolutely no cancellations or refunds. HealthyWage will suspend your challenge if you are pregnant.

How do I pay for the challenge?

You can pay with a credit or debit card. You will choose how much you want to "wager" each month. You can choose to pay the entire amount up-front (when you sign up), or to pay each month (we'll automatically charge your card equal installments on the same day of the month for the duration of your challenge, until you are paid in full). If you pay in installments, the first month is due during sign-up.

How do I know my payment information is secure?

HealthyWage is committed to protecting the security of your personal information, including payment information. We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, and disclosure. For example, all participant data is collected and transmitted over secured connections using 256-bit encryption. All pages on the HealthyWage website are served over TLS. All payment data is handled following rigorous Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards set by VISA, MasterCard, and American Express. We process payments via a highly reputable third-party payment processor and never store your sensitive payment information on our own system.

When will my next payment installment occur?

If you selected to pay in installments (as opposed to one single payment), your account will be charged every 30 days. Please note payments are processed exactly 30 days apart and will not occur on the same date of each month.

Can I get paid for referring friends?

Yes. We will add $40 to your prize for each friend you refer, and we will add $40 to the prize of each person you refer. That means if you blast 500 Facebook friends and 50 sign up for a HealthyWager, your HealthyWager prize will increase by $2,000 (added to your existing prize amount), plus you will give out $40 to each of them!


If the referral is sent and accepted within the first 10 days, the bonus you will receive increases to $100!

Is HealthyWage legal?

Yes. 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.

Winning
How do I win?

You win your prize if your weight is at or below your goal weight at the end of the time period.

How do I get paid?

We pay our winners by Paypal or check (the choice is yours).

How long does it take to get paid?

Our referees generally require just a day or two to confirm a win, but the review can take up to 7 days. If they have any questions or need a new submission, our referees may contact you via email during this window.

What if I achieve my goal early?

You must be at or below your goal weight during the two week weigh-out window. You can get your ending verified weigh-out anytime during that window. If you achieve your goal earlier, you must maintain the weight loss (or lose more weight) through the end of your wager period. You can lose more than your goal weight and still claim the prize. However, if you do not lose all of the weight selected during your wager, you will not win a prize.

Is there anything else I have to do to win the money?

Nope. You just need to achieve your goal in the timeframe you set up. Your time starts running when you get your verified weigh-in. Then, at the end of the challenge, you need to get your verified weigh-out during the two week window before and including your end date. it's as simple as that.

Will you report my winnings to the IRS?

If you are a U.S. person (as defined by the federal law) and if your net winnings exceed $600, then we will need you to complete a W-9 form so we can report the net winnings to the IRS.

Prize Calculator
Which option should I choose?

Different people have different approaches:

  • Length. Some people focus on length because you might be more likely to win if you connect your challenge to important life events (e.g., the start of summer, an upcoming wedding, etc.)
  • Prize. Some people are very money-motivated and focus on making the prize as big as possible (even if the ROI isn't as good)
  • ROI. Some people view the challenge like an investment and choose the option with the highest return on investment (ROI) – the ratio of prize to total investment
How do I change the prize and ROI?
  • Increase your goal weight
  • Increase the length of your bet
  • Try varying the amount of your investment
What is a normal bet?

Monthly investment: the average investment is about $60 for 9 months.

Prize: The average prize for all bettors is currently $1,203.

ROI: depends on several factors; most of all how healthy you are at the start. People with a healthy BMI, who generally need less motivation to succeed, can consider 30% a good ROI. If you have an obese BMI at the start, then you might see an ROI of 100% or more.

Length: we recommend whatever length is enough to lose your weight in a healthy way. 9 months is a good length for most people.

Goal: the goal amount is personal and depends on how much weight you want to lose. The goals of HealthyWage bettors range from less than 30 pounds to more than 150. The current average goal is 47 pounds.

My prize offers seem odd...

We continuously test different versions of our prize algorithm in order to move closer to our goal of providing the right prize sizes for every scenario without losing our shirts. Our tests include various limitations (e.g., prize per pound, ROI per BMI point, etc.) and experiments. Sometimes these tests cause the prize calculator to behave in ways you might not expect. Don't worry -- it's normal. Once you lock in your bet, your prize amount will not change -- the amount is guaranteed.

Are there any strings to get paid?

No. The only requirement is that you lose the weight in the timeframe you set up.

Being a Participant
What happens after I pay?
  • You will see your dashboard where you can track your progress and focus on winning your prize.
  • Your challenge officially starts when you get a verified weigh-in, which takes 30 seconds with our mobile app.
  • You will feel the powerful motivation to get going!
  • You will see the challenge feed where you can meet new friends, get inspiration and tips, ask questions, brag, vent, etc.!
  • You will see the invitation widget, where you can invite family and friends to join you!
Do I have to weigh in every week?

No. We recommend that you report your weight every week (not a verified weigh-in -- just a self-report) because it is hard to change something that you are not tracking. But the only required weigh-ins are:

  • One verified weigh-in at the start of the challenge, and
  • One verified weigh-in at the end of the challenge.
Do I have to do anything else?

No. Our website and mobile apps provide opportunities for you to dive into your weight loss, including meeting new friends, creating before-and-after photo sets, and more, but all of these things are optional -- you can skip them if you wish.

Can I contact you for support?

Of course -- the HealthyWage Participant Support team loves to talk to prospective, current, and previous participants. Our support line is available 7 days a week, though email is generally easier because our technicians can respond with screenshots and detailed instructions with links.


Email: info@healthywage.com

Phone: 1-888-636-3832

No commitment or cost required
to play with the Prize Calculator

Questions?

info@healthywage.com

(888) 636-3832