Willis Group Holdings employee benefits practice has teamed upwith NBC television's "The Biggest Loser" weight loss contest showto promote an incentive-driven consumer health and wellness programcalled "Winning with Willis."

The program's aim is to help companies lower healthcare costs byencouraging employees to lead healthier lifestyles.

Willis said it is making the program available to some ninemillion employees at the more than 30,000 U.S. companies for whichit arranges employee benefits.

To promote its new program, Willis partnered with NBC.com'sBiggest Loser League, a social-networking site that allows teamsand individuals to compete to see who can lose the most weight.

The site gives participants in the "Winning With Willis" programthe opportunity to lose weight and get in shape with friends.

"We are excited to be partnering with NBC to promote 'TheBiggest Loser League' and our new 'Winning with Willis' program,"said Michael Barton, leader of the Willis Employee BenefitsPractice in a statement. "We share a common goal: to help Americanslead healthier lives."

"Nearly 80 percent of medical claims today are the result oflong-term lifestyle choices," he said. "That's why companies wantto encourage diet and exercise among their employees as a way tobetter manage ever-escalating healthcare costs, workerscompensation losses and absenteeism."

Willis said the heart of the program is an innovative featurecalled "Willis Rewards." It is an incentive program offeringencouragement to exercise and lose weight, along with other healthybehaviors, such as participating in health-related education.

The Web-based rewards program gives employees savings on theirfavorite brands and services from more than 2,000 top retailers andmanufacturers. Once enrolled, employees are able to track pointsearned for healthy behavior or achieving other milestones asdetermined by their employer, and redeem the points for discountsof 15 to 40 percent off all types of merchandise and services.

Companies pay a nominal annual fee to have each employeeenrolled in the program, and employees are eligible for even deeperdiscounts when they upgrade on their own to a premiummembership.

"Our research shows that employees want and need real incentivesto be health and wellness achievers," said Mr. Barton. "Not justT-shirts and paperweights, but plenty of choice and great discountson the brands they know and love. The Willis Rewards program goesfar beyond the typical incentive plans offered to employees in thepast by giving them exactly what they want in an easy, convenientand secure online shopping environment.

The program's Web site features personal fitness and diet plansfrom Jillian Michaels, the personal trainer who stars on NBC's "TheBiggest Loser" show.

More information on the program is available at:www.winningwithwillis.com.