DietBet

What is DietBet?

DietBet is one of several companies that aim to encourage weight loss by turning it into a betting game. If you lose a set amount of weight (which varies by the contest) by the bet deadline, you win money.

How it works

There are multiple ways to play. You can create your own bet; you can join a short-term weight-loss bet, which last one month; or you can join a long-term weight-loss bet, which last six months or more. You can also participate in a bet that involves simply maintaining your current weight.

And the amount you need to put up to participate in a DietBet is fairly modest. Wagers can be anything over $10. And the weight-loss goal can be as little as 4% of your body weight. However, longer-term contests have a 10% weight-loss threshold.

However, in all cases, you must place a wager — i.e. ante up a set amount of money — to get started. The amount of the wager depends on the game.

Weigh-ins

Two days before the game gets underway, you must do a weigh-in.

Your weigh in will involve taking a full-length photo of yourself on the scale. And a close-up of the scale, where you’ll also show your “keyword” near the scale’s read-out. (Digital scales are encouraged.) You get the keyword from the app immediately before the weigh in. The idea is to reduce the chance of cheating.

There’s a second weigh-in at the end of the game, with the same rules. You must submit your weigh-in photos within a 48-hour period or your lose your right to claim any winnings.

If you’re involved in a larger bet — $200 or more — or your weight loss seems unusual, the site can require a video weigh-in. These require a friend’s help to video you on the scale at a distance and close up, showing your keyword at the end of the uncut video. Once again, this is to ensure that dieters don’t cheat to claim a piece of the pot.

What’s next?

If you join a short-term bet, you simply weigh in at the beginning and the end. And, if you’ve reached your goal, you’ll collect your winnings. But the winnings are often nothing to brag about because the short-term nature of these bets make it likely that there will be a lot of winners. And, since the winners split the pot, you might only get a few bucks over what you bet.

“Transformer” contests

The longer-term “Transformer” contests have “optional” monthly check-ins.

However, these check-ins are really not optional, if you want to ensure that you can at least get your money back.

If you don’t participate and hit the monthly weight-loss goals for the check ins, you lose the site’s “no-lose” guarantee. This guarantee says DietBet will pay at least the amount of your bet, if you “won” by losing the requisite amount of weight by the end of the contest.

Check-ins

The monthly check-ins for Transformer challenges pay prizes to anyone who meets the weight loss threshold for that month/round. Those thresholds:

• Round 1: 3%
• Round 2: 6%
• Round 3: 8%
• Round 4: 9%
• Round 5: 10%
• Round 6: 10%

At the end of the contest, the money in the pot is divided among those who have lost at least 10% of their body weight.

Disqualifying moves

Players can be disqualified for violating a handful of site policies. Specifically

• Engaging in unsportsmanlike behavior, including cheating, harassing or embarrassing other players.
• Lying about your weight
• Failing to submit an initial weigh in during the 14-day weigh-in period
• Failing to submit a final weigh-in, within the 48-hour contest-end window
• You can also be disqualified if you lose too much weight and exceed the site’s “maximum weight loss thresholds.”

If you get disqualified, you lose your bet amount and are likely to be banned from the site.

What’s the maximum weight loss threshold?

With “Kickstarter” challenges, that last only 4 weeks, participants cannot lose more than 12% of their initial body weight. If you lose more than that, you’ll get kicked out of the contest. With longer “transformer” challenges, you’re not allowed to lose more than 30% of your body weight.

Why? The site is aimed at safe and sustainable weight loss. So, it tries to discourage drastic weight loss.

You also are disqualified from participating in DietBet contests if your BMI is below 18.5 for the same reason.

Fees and commissions

DietBet keeps between 10% and 25% of the amount wagered as a site fee. The percentage depends on the size of the pot and the duration of the contest, as well as the number of winners. The site also has optional $50 annual membership, which allows members to participate in journaling and additional contests.

Like HealthyWage, DietBet promises to waive its fees, to ensure that all winners get back at least as much as they bet. But this guarantee does not account for the annual membership fee, for those who chose to buy into it. And, it doesn’t apply if you don’t do the monthly check-ins during a Transformer challenge.

Recommendations

While this not a traditional side hustle, it’s a good way to stay motivated if you’re trying to lose weight. From what we can tell, this site has a lot of winners though. (The site brags that 96% of users lose weight.)

That’s great for dieters, but not so much for those hoping to make money here. The more people who win, the more the pot is divided and the less likely you’ll cash out with much more than you bet.

That said, we like this site a lot. You can sign up with DietBet here.

We also recommend HeathyWage, if you need to lose 10% or more of your body weight. And some walking and exercise apps, such as Evidation and  CashWalk, might be worth signing up for as well. They don’t pay much, but a little is better than nothing. And getting paid any amount to simply get healthier strikes us as a classic win-win.

What their users say (from Google Play)

Fun app to get connected with people working toward a common goal. The friendly “competition” really helps keep up the motivation and momentum.

Good motivation. Not because of the money won. But the thought of loosing money because I didn’t reach my goal is great motivation

Dietbet is a great app to get positive motivation to lose weight. Whether you have a little or a lot to lose it is great! It holds you accountable. You don’t feel alone in your journey because you can post questions or express your feelings on the newsfeed.😊

I’ve used 5 or 6 times. Works everytime!

(from Apple App Store)

I have used DietBet for 8 years and it has consistently been helpful and motivating in losing weight. I value the comunity, those who lead the challenges and the accountability of membership that helps increase the likelihood that I’ll hit my goals. Many games also have mini challenges and games within them that keep you inspired. It’s also encouraging to hear frm others and their health journeys. I highly recommend this app and program to support your health and weight loss journey.

I’ve never been so motivated to lose weight. It really kept me accountable and motivated — and I just won my first weight loss challenge! So simple and user friendly. Highly recommend!

The scale and a few bucks is powerful! I love the motivation provided in these simple contessts. It keeps me on track to be successful!

Paltry winnings

This app did help me stay motivated over a 6 month bet. But I was unaware that the bet I joined required a $100 monthly subscription fee, so instead of investing $100, I spent $600. That’s okay, I thought, because I thought I’d get more money in the end. But my winnings were $646.60 — my $600 back, plus $46.60. That was for 6 months of busting my butt. The kicker is that DietBet took 10-25% of every month’s winnings. My problem is that I thought I was going to win $646 on top of the $600 I put in.

Weigh in confusion

I had to submit a video weigh-in. It got rejected 3 times. I watched the instructional video each time. I emailed support and they set me directions that were totally different than the instructional video on the app. It finally was accepted after I did video #4 and read the directions verbatim while recording.

3/18/2024