After weeks of verifications, confirmations, investigations and follow-ups, we are thrilled to announce the winners of The Matchup, our three-month-long team weight loss competition.  Each of the three top teams lost more than 200 pounds among five teammates of friends, colleagues, and/or family members.

More than 95 percent of The Matchup’s 1,000 contestants successfully lost weight, losing an average of several percent of their starting body weight. Contestants cited the contest’s accountability, competition, and informational tools as major motivators—which confirms HealthyWage’s founding premise, that the promise of an incentive is one of the most effective methods for changing bad health behavior into good ones.  Verification by contestants’ health clubs and doctors, coaching by successful former contestants on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” and partnerships with thousands of health clubs across the nation helped ensure continued, long-term success for these contestants, regardless of whether they’re scheduled for a cut of the contest’s $18,000.

The top three teams are as follows:

$10,000 first prize: “5Conquers7” from North Carolina

The winning group employed a strong team strategy, committing to regular meetings, communication, and encouragement.

“I have been overweight most of my life…I knew that if I didn’t do something, I could end up with health problems,” said team member Diamond Lucas.  “I’m a single mother, so the possibility of winning money definitely pushed me.”

Said Ernestine Harte, who started the team with her husband, “We were very committed. Between us we have lost 81 pounds in just a couple of months. I feel much better and am continuing this journey to optimal health.”

$5,000 second prize: “Chubbies” from Arizona

These family members from the Phoenix area entered The Matchup after seeing a TV segment on HealthyWage and the growing trend of incentives for weight loss. They credit their success to portion control, regular exercise, and a strong family support system.

$3,000 third prize: “Friendswood Five” from Texas

This group of friends from the Houston area lost an average of 40 pounds per person.  While each had a different reason for entering The Matchup, the most memorable is the team member who weight-loss journey started after a particularly wrenching breakup.

Other successful contestants included Wendy Keppe of Monroe Township, New Jersey, who lost 67 pounds in honor of her friend who passed away; and the “Beefcake Bloggers,” a team of techies from across the United States.

“Being part of a team was stronger than any desire I had to eat ice cream late at night or sit on the couch instead of going outside and exercising,” said team captain Jesse Michelsen, who blogged about his experience at www.pffirewall.com (his teammates also blogged about the experience at www.enemyoffat.com and in his finance blog enemyofdebt and elsewhere).  At the beginning of The Matchup, Beefcake Blogger Darren Durrant hoped to kick his 20-year habit of drinking six liters of soda a day. He succeeded by the contest’s end.  He blogged too:

Upon entering the contest, participants received fitness orientation at one of thousands of health clubs; and become part of the HealthyWage online community, for access to the site’s informational and social-networking tools and an even greater rate of success. During The Matchup, which ran from May through August, HealthyWage offered weight-loss coaching from Pete Thomas and Neil Tejwani, successful former contestants on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser;” and advice from a registered dietician and licensed psychotherapist.  (Tips the contestants found particularly helpful included switching to five small meals a day, keeping a record of calorie intake, and leaning on team members for support and encouragement.) These educational collaborations—which will continue indefinitely—helped foster accountability, build community, and ensure long-term, sustainable results.

ABOUT HEALTHYWAGE™

HealthyWage^TM (www.healthywage.com) provides cash incentives, social and expert support, information, resources, and goal-setting and tracking technologies to help Americans lose weight and improve their health.  The site’s variety of motivational tools were designed in response to academic research showing that small cash rewards triple the effectiveness of weight loss programs; that people are more effective at losing weight when they have their own money at risk; that friends and social networks play a large role in the spread of obesity, and will likely play a large role in reversing obesity; and that small amounts of money can make exercise a habit for new gym members.