A website called Diet Bet allows anyone in the world to compete as if they were on the "Biggest Loser" -- except of course without the expertise of trainers Rachel, Dolvett, and Bob. One woman credits the service for helping her lose 140 pounds, CNN reported.
Instead of the "Biggest Loser's" famous trainers, Diet Bet users find support among their betting groups. Competition seems to be friendly, while making money is more of a symbolic victory than a financial one (after all, you can only lose so much weight).
Sort of like fantasy football, those looking to lose weight can sign up for a private group with friends or an open group with strangers. Once a wager is agreed upon (usually increments of $5), participants have 28 days to lose 4 percent of their body weight. If they do, they split the pot, earning their money back and the money of those who failed to hit the 4 percent mark.
The subject of CNN's story, Sarah Luger, has earned $330 on her journey from 350 pounds to around 200. She began with small bets of $5 and has since moved on to $50 groups.
"I have never seen her so driven and persistent on a goal," her friend Travis Summerville told CNN. "I don't know where that came from, but she chose a simple exercise regimen and diet style that worked well for her, and she just kept at it consistently."
Unlike the "Biggest Loser," Diet Bet participants don't get extra incentives for losing over 4 percent of their weight, which protects people from dangerous weight loss regimes -- an area of criticism for the show's most recent winner.
Since Diet Bet is an online service, substantiating weight loss claims isn't a perfect process. To begin a round, users must submit a picture of themselves on a scale reading their weight. At the end, users must submit a corresponding picture. Though the competition isn't meant to be cutthroat, cheating could undermine some of its motivational aspects.
