Project Step II: The Effects of Incentives and Feedback on Promoting Walking Within Overweight and Obese Adults

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Physical Activity; Sedentary Lifestyle; Overweight and Obesity
• Interventions: Behavioral: Non-contingent incentives; Behavioral: Contingent incentives; Behavioral: Weekly feedback; Behavioral: Daily feedback

• Registration Number: NCT03574519
• Lead Sponsor: Drexel University

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate the main effects of daily vs. weekly feedback and contingent vs. non-contingent incentives for increasing walking behavior among overweight and obese adults.

Detailed Description

Approximately 68% of adults are overweight or obese, which is associated with increased risk for health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. These individuals are more often sedentary than the general population, which compounds the risk for these same conditions. While the benefits of engaging in physical activity are well-established, few individuals are able to successfully increase activity to recommended levels. Existing intervention programs, often derived from theories such as social cognitive theory or related theories, have had limited success. Behavioral economics offers a promising alternative, suggesting that engagement in any behavior is based on the maximizing utility and happiness (i.e., weighing the cost and benefit of the behavior). Interventions based on this theory aim to increase the immediate benefit of engaging in physical activity, often using a financial incentive.

This study will last for 8 weeks. All participants will have the use of a FitBit for ongoing self-monitoring and a personalized step-count goal designed to help increase daily steps. Participants will receive feedback on reaching their goals either daily or weekly.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-06-01
• Primary Completion: 2018-01-30
• Study Completion: 2018-01-30
• Status Verified: 2018-06
• Study First Submitted: 2018-06-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-06-20
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-06-29
• Study First Posted: 2018-07-02
• Last Update Posted: 2018-07-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 61

Inclusion Criteria

• 25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤ 45 kg/m2
• Age 18-70
• Currently inactive (engages in less than 6,000 steps/day on at least 4 of 7 days per week OR engaged in less than 10,000 steps /day on at least 5/7 days per week, confirmed by FitBit at baseline)
• Able to engage in moderate amount of walking
• Able to receive email/text messages from study staff

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Exclusion Criteria

• Psychiatric conditions that would make it difficult to comply
• Medical conditions that would make it difficult to comply

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Non-contingent incentives and weekly feedback	Non-contingent incentives	Participants will receive payment for participating in the study (regardless of goal attainment) and will receive weekly updates about their performance.
Non-contingent incentives and weekly feedback	Weekly feedback	Participants will receive payment for participating in the study (regardless of goal attainment) and will receive weekly updates about their performance.
Non-contingent incentives and daily feedback	Non-contingent incentives	Participants will receive payment for participating in the study (regardless of goal attainment) and will receive daily updates about their performance.
Contingent incentives and weekly feedback	Weekly feedback	Participants will receive payment for meeting their daily goals and will receive weekly updates about their performance.
Contingent incentives and daily feedback	Contingent incentives	Participants will receive payment for meeting their daily goals and will receive daily updates about their performance.
Contingent incentives and weekly feedback	Contingent incentives	Participants will receive payment for meeting their daily goals and will receive weekly updates about their performance.
Non-contingent incentives and daily feedback	Daily feedback	Participants will receive payment for participating in the study (regardless of goal attainment) and will receive daily updates about their performance.
Contingent incentives and daily feedback	Daily feedback	Participants will receive payment for meeting their daily goals and will receive daily updates about their performance.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Step counts	Change from baseline to end of 6-week intervention	Average daily step counts

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Step counts	Daily change during 6-week intervention

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Drexel University; 🇺🇸 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States