Nov 3rd, 2021
3 mins
The Government has announced that they will be launching a new app to help people make positive changes to their diet and physical activity next year.
From January 2022, a pilot will see users wearing a wrist device that can generate personal health recommendations, such as increasing their step count, eating more fruit and vegetables and decreasing portion sizes.
Users will collect points for these healthy behaviours which will unlock rewards, which could include gym passes, clothes or food vouchers and discounts for shops, cinema or theme park tickets.
HeadUp has been chosen to deliver the new scheme, with £3 million also coming from the Department of Health and Social Care to provide incentives.
Evidence suggests that financial incentives can improve rates of physical activity and inspire healthier eating so HeadUp will work with a range of organisations to provide rewards such as vouchers, merchandise, discounts and gift cards.
The government is committed to helping people lead healthier, happier lives by making it easier for people to make healthy choices.
The Health Incentives Scheme was announced as part of a £100 million package of government support to help those living with obesity to move closer towards a healthier weight and give them the tools they need to maintain this.
The pilot will launch in January 2022 and will run for 6 months in a defined location in England to be announced in due course.
To read more about the pilot, click here.
