Project Step II: The Effects of Incentives and Feedback on Promoting Walking Within Overweight and Obese Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will evaluate the main effects of daily vs. weekly feedback and contingent vs. non-contingent incentives for increasing walking behavior among overweight and obese adults.

Detailed Description
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Approximately 68% of adults are overweight or obese, which is associated with increased risk for health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. These individuals are more often sedentary than the general population, which compounds the risk for these same conditions. While the benefits of engaging in physical activity are well-established, few individuals are able to successfully increase activity to recommended levels. Existing intervention programs, often derived from theories such as social cognitive theory or related theories, have had limited success. Behavioral economics offers a promising alternative, suggesting that engagement in any behavior is based on the maximizing utility and happiness (i.e., weighing the cost and benefit of the behavior). Interventions based on this theory aim to increase the immediate benefit of engaging in physical activity, often using a financial incentive. This study will last for 8 weeks. All participants will have the use of a FitBit for ongoing self-monitoring and a personalized step-count goal designed to help increase daily steps. Participants will receive feedback on reaching their goals either daily or weekly.

Official Title
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Project Step II: The Effects of Incentives and Feedback on Promoting Walking Within Overweight and Obese Adults

Conditions
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Overweight and Obesity, Physical Activity, Sedentary Lifestyle

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Non-contingent incentives
* Behavioral: Contingent incentives
* Behavioral: Weekly feedback
* Behavioral: Daily feedback


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤ 45 kg/m2 Age 18-70 Currently inactive (engages in less than 6,000 steps/day on at least 4 of 7 days per week OR engaged in less than 10,000 steps /day on at least 5/7 days per week, confirmed by FitBit at baseline) Able to engage in moderate amount of walking Able to receive email/text messages from study staff Exclusion Criteria: Psychiatric conditions that would make it difficult to comply Medical conditions that would make it difficult to comply

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Non-contingent incentives and weekly feedback<br>Participants will receive payment for participating in the study (regardless of goal attainment) and will receive weekly updates about their performance. | Behavioral: Non-contingent incentives<br>* Incentives are provided for participation<br>Behavioral: Weekly feedback<br>* Text message feedback is delivered weekly summarizing the past week's progress<br>|
| Experimental: Non-contingent incentives and daily feedback<br>Participants will receive payment for participating in the study (regardless of goal attainment) and will receive daily updates about their performance. | Behavioral: Non-contingent incentives<br>* Incentives are provided for participation<br>Behavioral: Daily feedback<br>* Text message feedback is delivered daily summarizing the current day's progress<br>|
| Experimental: Contingent incentives and weekly feedback<br>Participants will receive payment for meeting their daily goals and will receive weekly updates about their performance. | Behavioral: Contingent incentives<br>* Incentives are provided for attaining daily goals<br>Behavioral: Weekly feedback<br>* Text message feedback is delivered weekly summarizing the past week's progress<br>|
| Experimental: Contingent incentives and daily feedback<br>Participants will receive payment for meeting their daily goals and will receive daily updates about their performance. | Behavioral: Contingent incentives<br>* Incentives are provided for attaining daily goals<br>Behavioral: Daily feedback<br>* Text message feedback is delivered daily summarizing the current day's progress<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Step counts | Average daily step counts | Change from baseline to end of 6-week intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Step counts | Average daily step counts | Change from end of intervention to end of 2-week follow-up | 
| Step counts |  | Daily change during 6-week intervention |