Would you exercise more for a dollar a day?

Would you exercise more for a dollar a day?

Ever thought a small incentive could get you moving? In this episode of People First Radio, Marc Mitchell from Western University shares his unique approach to motivating people to exercise by offering them small financial rewards. With a background in cardiac rehab, Mitchell observed that even those who had life-threatening experiences struggled to maintain an active lifestyle. This inspired him to explore the concept of paying people to exercise, leading to the creation of the Care Rewards app.

The app, developed in partnership with various governments, rewarded over a million Canadians with loyalty points for meeting their step goals. Mitchell's research showed that even a modest increase in daily steps can lead to significant health benefits like better weight maintenance and reduced blood pressure. The episode dives into the science behind these incentives and how they can create lasting habits. Mitchell emphasises that the reward needs to be small enough to avoid dependency but sufficient to motivate.

This approach leverages our natural decision biases, encouraging immediate action for long-term health benefits. If you're curious about how a tiny nudge can lead to big changes in health behaviour, this episode is a must-listen. Could a small reward be the key to your fitness journey?