Imagine earning gold for every kilogram you lost in a diet. Dubai has launched such a campaign aimed at combating obesity.
The ‘lose your weight in gold’ campaign is designed for every United Arab Emirates resident who can lose more than two kilograms of weight. (4.4 pounds) If they can lose the weight they will be paid a gram of gold for each kilogram shed. The current price of a gram of gold in Dubai is US$41.30.
The contest is designed to raise awareness of health problems that come with weight issues.Once the competition ends the three biggest weight losers will win a gold coin to mark their achievement worth £3,500.
The Dubai competition is backed by the local municipal government and healthcare groups. The contest has been based on recent American research that claims monetary awards are the best way to incentivise weight loss.
However, the research does not indicate if the weight will stay off once the money has been paid.
Getting paid for losing weight is not a new idea. The National Health Service (NHS) in Britain has promoted the idea for some time through a firm called “Weight Wins”. Weight Wins has paid out over £130,000 in rewards to members since 2007.
The incentive to earn gold through weight loss is a new addition to the reward system of diet schemes. Only time will tell if this golden health initiative will be successful for the local municipal government and the people of Dubai.
