So how did Deen lose all that weight? On the ABC food show “The Chew” Deen said: “It’s really about moderation. I’ve said it for so long but I really started to practice that." She also started working out with weights and walking.
Well, I doubt "so long" goes back to before she started collecting money from Novo Nordisk in December, 2011, or thereabouts. I also don't put any stock into her statement: “It took me a couple of years to get to this point" (see "What’s the Secret to Paula Deen’s Weight Loss?"). The fact is, she lost the weight AFTER being signed on as a spokesperson.
Which proves that money is the best incentive for adhering to a healthy lifestyle. If, like Deen, I was paid a substantial amount of money to lose 30 lbs in six months, I have no doubt I could do it. In fact, I have lost 30 pounds in less than 6 months without any monetary rewards. But that's another story; ie, I have since gained back those 30 lbs :-(.
Even rewards as low as $1 or $2 per week can induce ordinary folks like you and me to lose weight. This was demonstrated by a UConn study in which patients who lost "at least a pound in a given week would draw from a prize bowl. The prize bowl contained 500 cards, 250 of which were prizes. Most of the prizes were valued at around $1, and some were of greater value, offering a chance at larger prizes such as an iPod or fitness equipment. The average cost per draw was approximately $2" (see "UConn Researchers Find Incentives Effective for Weight Loss"). Participants in the study also received "supportive counseling," which, I'm sure, Deen also is getting (free of charge?).
Anyhoo, at the end of the 12-week UConn study, the results showed an average weight loss of 6 percent of body weight in the group receiving awards, compared to an average body weight loss of 3.5 percent in the counseling-only group.
Let's do some math. A 6% weight loss for the reward group computes to about 11 lbs for an overweight 180-lb woman. That's over a period of 3 months. In six months, it would be 22 lbs -- pretty close to what Deen lost.
In the UConn study, participants were not guaranteed a reward if they lost weight and the reward was not commensurate with the amount of weight lost -- such a reward system might be unethical and cause people to starve themselves for money. Hopefully, that will not happen with Paula Deen. And hopefully, she, like me, will not gain back her weight when her deal with Novo Nordisk is finished.
My little poll (below) suggests that a plurality (not a majority) of people believe the Novo Nordisk deal with Paula Deen was a "Dumb" idea from a marketing perspective. Many people who were unsure may now think it wasn't such a dumb idea after all. What do you think?
Well, it really depends.. There are people who go crazy to buy something if it's only a few dollars cheaper even if they have to drive through the whole town. They would sure be motivated by $1-2 prizes, but most people probably not.
ReplyDeleteI guess it would never occur to you that an overweight woman with T2 diabetes would want to lose weight to be healthier, huh? I get cynicism, but Paula has so much money she never has to work another day in her life. Do you really think money made her lose weight?
ReplyDeleteWell, yes, I do believe the money made her do it. After all, she did not do anything about her weight BEFORE she signed on with Novo even though she was diagnosed and being treated for diabetes for three years prior. Some people just can not get enough money - if not for themselves, then for sure to pass on to their children.
DeleteTo take the optimist view, acting as a paid spokesperson for Novo could have exposed her to a much greater degree of education about T2 diabetes (from Novo directly, from interacting with experts at events, etc.). The hypothesis is that greater education leads to increased desire for better health, even in a disease like diabetes where behavior change is a major barrier. Luckily Paula, through her Novo sponsorship dollars or her Food Network fame, can afford to act on the education she received, and commit to better health by purchasing healthier foods, gym memberships, trainers, etc.
DeleteIt's probable that the relationship with Novo was educational, so I don't disagree with you on that point. However, it would be interesting to know if pharma contracts with spokespeople specify EXACTLY what life style changes, etc. the celebrity must make and, in this case, what weight goals need to be achieved. It's possible that full payment is contingent on meeting these goals (maybe there are penalties for not meeting goals) or perhaps bonuses are given for achieving goals. In other words, pharma may be improving celebrity adherence by using incentives whereas no such incentives are generally available to us common folk.
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