Personal financial incentives can change habitual health-related behaviors and help reduce health inequalities .
However , their role in reducing disease burden is potentially limited given current evidence that effects dissipate beyond three months post-incentive removal
OBJECTIVES Uncertainty remains about whether personal financial incentives could achieve sustained changes in health-related behaviors that would reduce the fast-growing global non-communicable disease burden .
This review aims to estimate whether : i. financial incentives achieve sustained changes in smoking , eating , alcohol consumption and physical activity ; ii .
effectiveness is modified by ( a ) the target behavior , ( b ) incentive value and attainment certainty , ( c ) recipients ' deprivation level .
Financial Incentives for Extended Weight Loss: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Previous efforts to use incentives for weight loss have result ed in substantial weight regain after 16 weeks . OBJECTIVE To evaluate a longer term weight loss intervention using financial incentives . DESIGN A 32-week , three-arm r and omized controlled trial of financial incentives for weight loss consisting of a 24-week weight loss phase during which all participants were given a weight loss goal of 1 pound per week , followed by an 8-week maintenance phase . PARTICIPANTS Veterans who were patients at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center with BMI s of 30–40.INTERVENTION Participants were r and omly assigned to participate in either a weight-monitoring program involving a consultation with a dietician and monthly weigh-ins ( control condition ) , or the same program with one of two financial incentive plans . Both incentive arms used deposit contracts ( DC ) in which participants put their own money at risk ( matched 1:1 ) , which they lost if they failed to lose weight . In one incentive arm participants were told that the period after 24 weeks was for weight-loss maintenance ; in the other , no such distinction was made . MAIN MEASUREWeight loss after 32 weeks . KEY RESULTS Results were analyzed using intention-to-treat . There was no difference in weight loss between the incentive arms ( P = 0.80 ) . Incentive participants lost more weight than control participants [ mean DC = 8.70 pounds , mean control = 1.17 , P = 0.04 , 95 % CI of the difference in means ( 0.56 , 14.50 ) ] . Follow-up data 36 weeks after the 32-week intervention had ended indicated weight regain ; the net weight loss between the incentive and control groups was no longer significant ( mean DC = 1.2 pounds , 95 % CI , -2.58–5.00 ; mean control = 0.27 , 95 % CI , -3.77–4.30 , P = 0.76 ) . CONCLUSIONS Financial incentives produced significant weight loss over an 8-month intervention ; however , participants regained weight post-intervention
Personal financial incentives can change habitual health-related behaviors and help reduce health inequalities .
However , their role in reducing disease burden is potentially limited given current evidence that effects dissipate beyond three months post-incentive removal
OBJECTIVES Uncertainty remains about whether personal financial incentives could achieve sustained changes in health-related behaviors that would reduce the fast-growing global non-communicable disease burden .
This review aims to estimate whether : i. financial incentives achieve sustained changes in smoking , eating , alcohol consumption and physical activity ; ii .
effectiveness is modified by ( a ) the target behavior , ( b ) incentive value and attainment certainty , ( c ) recipients ' deprivation level .