Picture this:  You are a regular user of a smartphone. It is a fact that more than half of America's Black adults suffer from health problems. Tobacco and obesity are the main culprits. The good news is that these health problems can be tackled. A new approach is on the scene using smart phones and financial rewards. This is a modern age we are living in. Ideas come out of the sky into the hands of the people.

Believe it or not, there is a link between being a couch potato and using tobacco. It’s not a coincidence that Black adults in the USA face higher rates of sickness and disease. Being overweight or a smoker can make things much worse.  That's the fact. Combine that with not enough exercise and you've got a recipe for disaster. So, what can be done?

Enter the world of smartphones. Lots of Black people are smart phone users. So, some scientists had an idea. Maybe smartphones can be used to create solutions. One solution is to start rewarding people for stopping smoking and starting to exercise. These rewards are in the form of money. This is not charity. It is a deal. People get a reward for hitting their targets. A reward for performing. This plan is essentially a way to trick people into being healthier. It’s a unique approach.

The plan was thoroughly tested. A group of Black adults participated. Some of them got the reward plan, while others encouraged to do the same things but with no rewards. The difference in health was measured. This way it was determined if the plan is a success.

Initially, both groups are unsure of the outcome. The participants may wonder if they can stay interested. That’s normal. We are humans. Healthy habits can be tough to start but once the start they can be fun. They started with quitting smoking and also tackling a pesky mid-section. This is no easy task. Do you think the financial incentives helped? That is the question.

Black adults form a sizeable group of active smartphone users. Can's that be a good thing? Of course it can! But also of course it has it's negative side too. We all know that.  Smartphones don't make us healthy overnight, but they are a huge part of the modern world. They can be used to do good too. Then there is the problem of toy-ing with people's health motivations. Should people need to pay to be healthy? A lot of questions are there for the action!   Researchers are emerging. It is part of the motivation. Trying to save lives! Isn’t that’s a noble cause?

You think about it?

There is a lot to be said for the idea of using social media and other technologies to promote better health habits. People like rewards.  We all like the money! It's a human trait! Phone with a heart is a cool way to say it. People like to get paid and if it happens to make them healthier that is a bonus. Just don’t go around thinking that a new phone with a heart will solve all of society's ills.

It is a double edged sword. So make a choice.

Black adults in the USA have to fight hard against health epidemics. And it is true.

Did you notice how much social problems go hand in hand with health problems?

The science says the plan works. Use an app that makes you use your phone in a smart way.  Add a bit of reward to keep it entertaining. To be clear, there are no money handouts. They are extra rewards for getting a person to live a healthier life. What's not to like. Its a game with a great payoff and bonus.

Could this new approach change the way we tackle health problems? Will it make a difference and get people to live longer and better lives? We hope so.

Smoking and Couch Potatoes: Black adults in the USA fight health epidemic

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