Previous research suggests cash incentives for weight loss can also be effective for individuals outside of a group or workplace. A March study from the Mayo Clinic that looked at cash incentives for weight loss among 100 obese patients found the chance to win or lose $20 a month got dieters to drop an average of 9 pounds over the course of a year, about four times more weight than those who were not offered money.

CBS News by Michelle Castillo

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