Group refunds , deposit not paid as lump sum , participants setting their own deposit size and additional behaviour change techniques were associated with greater weight loss during treatment .
Post-treatment , there was no significant effect of MCCs on weight loss .
There was a significant small-to-medium effect of MCCs on participant retention during treatment .
Research er-set deposits paid as one lump sum , refunds delivered on an all-or-nothing basis and refunds contingent on attendance at classes were associated with greater retention during treatment .
Post-treatment , there was no significant effect of MCCs on participant retention .
The results support the use of MCCs to promote weight loss and participant retention up to the point that the incentive is removed and identifies the conditions under which MCCs work best
Financial incentives to improve health have received increasing attention , but are subject to ethical concerns .
Monetary Contingency Contracts ( MCCs ) , which require individuals to deposit money that is refunded contingent on reaching a goal , are a potential alternative strategy .
This review evaluates systematic ally the evidence for weight loss – related MCCs .
Toward the development of self-help health behaviour change programs: weight loss by correspondence.
The goal of this study was to evaluate a correspondence weight control program , and to assess the impact of three program elements ( weekly homework , interim weigh-ins , and participation deposits ) individually and in combination . All treated participants received 15 weekly st and ard lessons by mail . Three program features were varied factorially : a ) homework assignments , b ) interim weigh-ins and c ) a deposit refunded contingent on returning homework and /or attending interim weigh-ins . Participants were assigned r and omly to active treatment conditions or a delayed treatment control group .  Among treated males ( N = 14 ) , initial average weight loss and BMI reduction were 9.6 kg and 3.1 respectively ; average net weight loss and BMI reduction at one year follow-up were 5.8 kg and 1.9 respectively . Among treated females ( N = 128 ) , initial average weight loss and BMI reduction were 3.1 kg and 1.2 respectively ; average net weight loss and BMI reduction at one year were 2.3 kg and .88 respectively . Women in all treated groups , except lessons only , showed a greater BMI reduction than untreated controls at the end of treatment . Women in conditions including both homework and interim weigh-ins had greater initial BMI reductions ( M = 1.6 ) than those who received lessons only ( M = .76 ) . At one year , net BMI reductions were comparable across all treated groups . Of the 42 women initially registered in conditions that included both homework and weigh-ins , 12 who denied joining other programs lost at least 4.5 kg ( M = 7.1 ) during treatment , and 7 had a net loss of at least 4.5 kg ( M = 8.0 ) at one year without apparent involvement in any other program
Group refunds , deposit not paid as lump sum , participants setting their own deposit size and additional behaviour change techniques were associated with greater weight loss during treatment .
Post-treatment , there was no significant effect of MCCs on weight loss .
There was a significant small-to-medium effect of MCCs on participant retention during treatment .
Research er-set deposits paid as one lump sum , refunds delivered on an all-or-nothing basis and refunds contingent on attendance at classes were associated with greater retention during treatment .
Post-treatment , there was no significant effect of MCCs on participant retention .
The results support the use of MCCs to promote weight loss and participant retention up to the point that the incentive is removed and identifies the conditions under which MCCs work best
Financial incentives to improve health have received increasing attention , but are subject to ethical concerns .
Monetary Contingency Contracts ( MCCs ) , which require individuals to deposit money that is refunded contingent on reaching a goal , are a potential alternative strategy .
This review evaluates systematic ally the evidence for weight loss – related MCCs .