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 .
Promoting weight control at the worksite: a pilot program of self-motivation using payroll-based incentives.
Thirty-six individuals participated in a worksite weight-loss program  in which the central component was a self-motivation program of biweekly payroll deductions refunded contingent on meeting self-selected weight-loss goals . Half were assigned to early treatment and the remainder to a delayed treatment control group .  Nine additional individuals also enrolled at the time of  delayed treatment  and were included in descriptive analyses of factors associated with weight loss . Results showed low program attrition over 6 months ( 6 % ) and mean weight losses ( 12.3 lb ) that are competitive with those obtained in clinical setting s. Although not different at baseline , participants in the delayed treatment group lost more than twice as much weight as those in the early treatment condition . This difference was interpreted as either a strong seasonal effect or a critical mass effect related to the proportion of employees at the worksite participating in the program . We conclude that self-motivation programs for health behavior change using the payroll system as an organization framework offer a promising new methodology for promoting healthful behaviors in work setting
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 .