Financial Incentives for Maintenance of Weight Loss
- Conditions
- Obesity
- Registration Number
- NCT01900392
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Pennsylvania
- Brief Summary
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of financial incentives in improving and maintaining weight loss.
- Detailed Description
Study participants will be obese volunteers recruited from a major community-based weight loss program (Weight Watchers), who have lost at least 5kg during the 4-6 months prior to enrolling in the study. Among these participants, the following will be assessed: 1. The effectiveness of a daily lottery-based financial incentive, relative to the control group, on weight loss and weight maintenance; 2. The effectiveness of a direct payment incentive, relative to the control group, on maintenance of weight loss; 3. Assess the comparative effectiveness of lottery-based and direct payment financial incentives on weight loss and maintenance; 4. The degree to which weight loss is maintained in the intervention groups relative to usual care during the 6 months following cessation of the intervention will also be determined.
During Phase I, incentives will be provided to some study participants (direct payment and lottery arm) for the first 6 months and subjects will be followed for 6 more months to examine effects following cessation of incentives.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 191
- Adults age 30-80
- BMI between 30 and 45 prior to starting Weight Watchers
- Have a documented weight loss of at least 5kg in the past 4-6 months before enrolling
- Stable health
- Substance abuse
- Bulimia nervosa or related behaviors
- Pregnancy or breast feeding
- Medical contraindications to counseling about diet, physical activity, or weight reduction
- Unstable mental illness
- Screen positive for pathological gambling on the basis of the 10 item DSM-IV criteria (excluded if meets 5 or more criteria)
- Individuals unable to read consent forms or fill out surveys in English
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Weight From Baseline to 6 Months 6 months Change in Weight From Baseline to 12 Months 12 months
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of Pennsylvania
🇺🇸Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
University of Pennsylvania🇺🇸Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States