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1. 1. 1. Political: American Crossroads (SuperPAC for Republican Party); House Majority PAC (supporting House Democrats)

      2. Gun Control: National Rifle Association; Education Fund to Stop Gun Violence

3. Add a Referee—The user designates a “Referee” to verify his or her weekly progress reports and offer encouragement. If the referee doubts the authenticity of a user’s report, she can override the report submitted, and any stakes on the line would be forfeited.

4. Invite Supporters—To broaden the user’s accountability, friends can be added as “Supporters.” Supporters receive weekly updates on the individual’s progress through email, Facebook, and Twitter and can provide feedback and encouragement to the user.

Reports CEO Jordan Goldberg: “In contrast to most weight-loss programs, stickK focuses on goal-setting as a form of empowerment and does not require or advocate a particular weight loss method. The scientific basis for Commitment Contracts is predicated upon time inconsistent preferences. People tend to place a higher value on immediate gratification, such as opting for a cheeseburger over a salad. Overweight people may not be sufficiently motivated by long-term health risks to change their behavior today because the costs are too far in the future. By placing a monetary incentive on the line, individuals can shift those long-term costs forward, encouraging the user to make the right choice today. If a user has $25 at stake each week, the true cost of a $5 cheeseburger on the menu may be $30. The optimal structure is where the user has risked enough money that the cost of not changing his or her behavior is so great that maintaining the status quo is no longer an option.”

Individuals’ reported weight loss success rates using stickK ranged from a high of 61.3% on average when the user is fully engaged with the site (using both financial incentives and a referee to confirm reports) to 14.5% without a referee or financial stakes.

Success Rates for stickK Users with Weight Loss Commitment Contracts:

Demographics for stickK Users with Weight Loss Commitment Contracts:

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