St. Elizabeth Healthcare and HealthyWage are offering a new region wide contest to encourage residents to lose weight. The contest – called Get Healthy to Win Big – encourages participants with weekly nutrition and fitness tips as well as challenges. Teams of five will compete for the greatest percentage of weight lost from January 9, 2017 through April 3, 2017.
Participants can win cash prizes funded independently and guaranteed by HealthyWage. The top-performing team will win $10,000; second place will win $5,000; and third place will win $3,000.
“We are excited to support Get Healthy to Win Big and help bring the region together in a collective effort to achieve weight-loss and health goals through a fun competition,” said Garren Colvin, St. Elizabeth Healthcare President and CEO.
“This challenge fits in nicely with our overall goal of helping Northern Kentucky become one of the healthiest communities in the country.”
With more than 35 percent of all Kentucky adults reported to be obese and far more classified as overweight, coupled with Kentucky’s estimated annual medical cost of obesity at more than $2 billion, wellness initiatives that will impact the region at large are needed.
To help Northern Kentucky residents get healthy and fit, the contest will use unique, proven tools developed by HealthyWage. Get Healthy to Win Big includes weekly social media mini-contests that will engage the community virtually by encouraging participants to share photos, videos, and vignettes on a weekly basis.
Each participant pays a $70 registration fee and weighs in at the beginning and end of the contest. During the contest, participants receive content from HealthyWage and weekly challenges designed to help the participants stay motivated and maximize their weight-loss success during the contest period.
In addition, contest participants will qualify for additional prizes if they keep their weight off after six months. HealthyWage is providing a full reimbursement of the participant entry fee if they lose 10% of their starting weight six months after the end of the challenge.
“Our financial incentive-based approach to motivate weight loss is proven effective,” says HealthyWage co-founder David Roddenberry. “In fact, participants in previous financial compensation-based HealthyWage team contests have lost on average 5% of their body weight. Like other contests throughout the United States, this Northern Kentucky program will be a fun and effective way to mobilize the community around health and wellness.”
Those interested in learning more and registering for Get Healthy to Win Big may do so online at www.gethealthytowinbig.com.