upperkatt
2017-06-12, 11:33
Abstract
The prevalence of overweight and obesity has more than doubled in the past three decades, leading to rising rates of non-communicable diseases. This study tests whether adding a payment/rewards (term reward) program to an existing evidence-based weight loss program can increase weight loss and weight loss maintenance. We conducted a parallel-group randomized controlled trial from October 2012 to October 2015 with 161 overweight or obese individuals randomized to either control or reward arm in a 1:2 ratio. Control and reward arm participants received a four month weight loss program at the LIFE (Lifestyle Improvement and Fitness Enhancement) Centre at Singapore General Hospital. Those in the reward arm paid a fee of S$165.00 (1US$ = 1.35S$) to access a program that provided rewards of up to S$660 for meeting weight loss and physical activity goals. Participants could choose to receive rewards as guaranteed cash payments or a lottery ticket with a 1 in 10 chance of winning but with the same expected value. The primary outcome was weight loss at months 4, 8, and 12. 161 participants were randomized to control (n = 54) or reward (n = 107) arms. Average weight loss was more than twice as great in the reward arm compared to the control arm at month 4 when the program concluded (3.4 kg vs 1.4 kg, p < 0.01), month 8 when rewards concluded (3.3 kg vs 1.8 kg, p < 0.05), and at month 12 (2.3 kg vs 0.8 kg, p < 0.05). These results reveal that a payment/rewards program can be used to improve weight loss and weight loss maintenance when combined with an evidence-based weight loss program. Future efforts should attempt to replicate this approach and identify how to cost effectively expand these programs to maximize their reach.
Eric A. Finkelstein, Kwang-Wei Tham, Benjamin A. Haaland, Aarti Sahasranaman. Applying economic incentives to increase effectiveness of an outpatient weight loss program (TRIO) – A randomized controlled trial. Social Science & Medicine, 2017; 185: 63 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.05.030
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28554160/#fft
Fulltext: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953617303313?via%3Dihub
Lättläst: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170609091246.htm
The prevalence of overweight and obesity has more than doubled in the past three decades, leading to rising rates of non-communicable diseases. This study tests whether adding a payment/rewards (term reward) program to an existing evidence-based weight loss program can increase weight loss and weight loss maintenance. We conducted a parallel-group randomized controlled trial from October 2012 to October 2015 with 161 overweight or obese individuals randomized to either control or reward arm in a 1:2 ratio. Control and reward arm participants received a four month weight loss program at the LIFE (Lifestyle Improvement and Fitness Enhancement) Centre at Singapore General Hospital. Those in the reward arm paid a fee of S$165.00 (1US$ = 1.35S$) to access a program that provided rewards of up to S$660 for meeting weight loss and physical activity goals. Participants could choose to receive rewards as guaranteed cash payments or a lottery ticket with a 1 in 10 chance of winning but with the same expected value. The primary outcome was weight loss at months 4, 8, and 12. 161 participants were randomized to control (n = 54) or reward (n = 107) arms. Average weight loss was more than twice as great in the reward arm compared to the control arm at month 4 when the program concluded (3.4 kg vs 1.4 kg, p < 0.01), month 8 when rewards concluded (3.3 kg vs 1.8 kg, p < 0.05), and at month 12 (2.3 kg vs 0.8 kg, p < 0.05). These results reveal that a payment/rewards program can be used to improve weight loss and weight loss maintenance when combined with an evidence-based weight loss program. Future efforts should attempt to replicate this approach and identify how to cost effectively expand these programs to maximize their reach.
Eric A. Finkelstein, Kwang-Wei Tham, Benjamin A. Haaland, Aarti Sahasranaman. Applying economic incentives to increase effectiveness of an outpatient weight loss program (TRIO) – A randomized controlled trial. Social Science & Medicine, 2017; 185: 63 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.05.030
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28554160/#fft
Fulltext: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953617303313?via%3Dihub
Lättläst: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170609091246.htm