Benefits of adding small financial incentives or optional group meetings to a web‐based statewide obesity initiative. (11th November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leahey, Tricia M.; Subak, Leslee L.; Fava, Joseph; Schembri, Michael; Thomas, Graham; Xu, Xiaomeng; Krupel, Katie; Kent, Kimberly; Boguszewski, Katherine; Kumar, Rajiv; Weinberg, Brad; Wing, Rena
• Is Part Of: Obesity. Volume 23:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 70
• Page End: 76
• Publication Date: 2014-11-11
• Subjects: Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.398005
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.20937
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1930-7381

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="oby20937-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To examine whether adding either small, variable financial incentives or optional group sessions improves weight losses in a community‐based, Internet behavioral program.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20937-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Participants (<italic>N</italic> = 268) from Shape Up Rhode Island 2012, a 3‐month Web‐based community wellness initiative, were randomized to: Shape Up+Internet behavioral program (SI), Shape Up+Internet program+incentives (SII), or Shape Up+Internet program+group sessions (SIG).</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20937-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>At the end of the 3‐month program, SII achieved significantly greater weight losses than SI (SII: 6.4% [5.1‐7.7]; SI: 4.2% [3.0‐5.6]; <italic>P</italic> = 0.03); weight losses in SIG were not significantly different from the other two conditions (SIG: 5.8% [4.5‐7.1], <italic>P</italic>'s ≥ 0.10). However, at the 12‐month no‐treatment follow‐up visit, both SII and SIG had greater weight losses than SI (SII: 3.1% [1.8‐4.4]; SIG: 4.5% [3.2‐5.8]; SI: 1.2% [−0.1‐2.6]; <italic>P</italic>'s ≤ 0.05). SII was the most cost‐effective approach at both 3 (SII: $34/kg; SI: $34/kg; SIG: $87/kg) and 12 months (SII: $64/kg; SI: $140/kg; SIG: $113/kg).</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20937-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Modest financial incentives enhance weight losses during a community campaign, and both incentives and optional group meetings improved overall weight loss outcomes during the follow‐up period. However, the use of the financial incentives is the most cost‐effective approach.</p> </sec> </abstract>