HealthyWagefor iOS

HealthyWage is a free app that experiments with the premise of rewarding users for losing weight. Rather than receiving a nice dinner or points for discounts, HealthyWage allows you to wager on your own performance. HealthyWage is part of a popular trend of fitness-wagering apps.

Features

HealthyWage’s primary features are the wagering system, video verification, and team challenges. These systems are designed to encourage and reward the user for losing weight, either on their own or as part of a team. Users first download the app and input their height and weight, they then verify their identity and size with video verification.

After verifying identity and current weight, users begin by wagering on their progress. The app has a minimum bet set at $100. Users wager on losing a certain amount of weight within a specified amount of time. If the user successfully loses their target weight, they receive their initial bet back, or more if they go beyond their goal.

Risks

Because of the nature of the app, the process can be likened to gambling. However, it’s not gambling, due to the user having full control of the outcome, and therefore not illegal. However, this doesn’t mean that there isn't a great potential for loss. Losing weight is difficult, and apps such as HealthyWage can come off as predatory for this reason.

The app is essentially using customers as a source of income by assuming they’ll overestimate themselves and fail. Failing to meet the goal in the allotted time will cause the user to lose their initial bet. Be careful when using these apps and never go beyond your means.

Competition

The primary competition for HealthyWage is the similarly-named DietBet app. DietBet provides a similar premise to HealthyWage, betting on your weight loss. The primary difference is that DietBet revolves around the idea of losing weight in a group of two or more people. HealthyWage provides team challenges as an option, but not as a mandatory format.

Our take

HealthyWage is an app you can download and use to earn money. You can earn up to $10,000 according to the various marketing blurbs by the company. In practice, this is highly unlikely without a massive, initial bet and an impressive amount of dedication.

Should you download it?

Yes. If you can responsibly manage your bets and have the dedication to make your goals a reality.