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New Year’s Resolution Survey Shows Pessimism Reigns Supreme

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Recent research continues to suggest that people typically “give up” pursuing their New Year’s resolutions within the first month, with fully two-thirds of people abandoning these pursuits even before January month end.

It seems that resolution pessimism endures amid the results of a new “gut check” diet resolutions poll from wellness gamification pioneer HealthyWage. The majority of respondents (53.07%) intended to resolve to lose weight or increase their fitness level in 2023. The vast majority of New Year’s resolution-makers (fully 86.67%) believed they would not stick to it and fail to accomplish their goal—with a decidedly frank 14.95% indicating there’s “not a chance” of them succeeding.

Conducted via SurveyMonky.com, the poll included more than 500 respondents between the ages of 25-65 from mixed income households across the U.S., and were relatively equally mixed among males (45.95%) and females (54.05%). The Survey took place online between November 29-30, 2022, with results tallied on November 30, 2022.

HealthyWage provides cash incentives, social and expert-based support, tools and resources, and goal-setting and tracking technologies to address our nation’s obesity epidemic and improve America’s collective health. It has paid more than $51 million cash rewards for a collective 3.6 million pounds lost.

Among the 82.88% of folks who indicated they have made some kind of resolution in the past, those intentions have often proven futile quickly. Within the first two weeks of January, 21.08% of these resolutions fell by the wayside, pushing up to 39.42% in just the first one to two months of the New Year.

The primary culprit? Nearly one-third (31.53%) cite “lack of willpower” as their point of peril, with nearly the same amount of respondents (30.63%) blaming a “lack of motivation” for their resolution dissolution. It seems there’s a need for a point of inspiration, enthusiasm and incentive to instill the resolve needed to stay the course, especially while at work with the majority of respondents (25.23%) blaming a “busy work schedule” for difficulty in maintaining a healthy diet or fitness regimen.

With all of this in mind, when asked if a cash prize incentive would “motivate you to stick to a diet, fitness or weight-related New Year’s resolution,” about half of pollsters (42.34%) asserted a resounding “absolutely, no question about it” response. The other near half (44.32%) of folks specified they are willing to think outside of the box and try, noting they are “not sure but it would be worth a shot.”

Relatedly, when asked what they feel the primary advantage that cash prize-based diet contests and weight-loss wagering programs (individual or team-based) have over other weight loss methods, that all-important point of motivation manifested yet again as the bulk of respondents (nearly half at 43.6%) stated, “the opportunity to win money for my efforts would give me a significant motivation boost.”

The next highest group (17.84%) underscored the power of having financial “skin the game,” affirming that “having to pay to ‘bet’ on my own success, with the opportunity to win much more money, would increase the likelihood that I would stick with the program.” For 14.23% of others, the element of competition—the “idea of winning over other contenders”—is what would “really drive them.” This as 11.89% of participants appreciate the sense of community, noting that “a team approach would give me the support and encouragement I need to stock with the program and strive for the prize money.”

Further to that point, when asked if they think “participating in a fun team-based weight loss challenge with family/friends or co-workers would better motivate and encourage you to stick to your weight loss resolution versus going it alone,” cash clearly remains king. Over one-third (35.32%) said, “yes, the social team camaraderie would be very helpful but a cash prize would be the primary motivation.” A close 32.25% feel keeping themselves obliged to another would be helpful, citing that “being accountable to others would make a huge difference.”

Accountability is most needed at nighttime, with the majority of respondents (20.61%) lamenting that during the “evening” is the toughest time to stick to weight loss or fitness-related resolution. What happens when they know they’re about to break a weight loss-specific New Year’s resolution? Sadly, nearly a quarter of folks (23.24%) “give in to temptation and eat the banned food.”

HealthyWage was founded in response to academic research that purportedly shows even small cash rewards triple the effectiveness of weight-loss programs; that people are more effective at losing weight when their own money is at risk; and that social networks play a large role in the spread of obesity, and will likely play a large role in reversing obesity.

As the Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee Kern is an internationally-regarded consumer product trends expert and hospitality industry voice of authority—a travel, dining, leisure and lifestyle expert who spotlights noteworthy marketplace innovations, change makers, movers and shakers.

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