Image: PD/CDC

1. Obese employees randomized to group incentives lost more weight over a six-month period than those randomized to individual incentives or no incentives. 

2. Three months after the intervention ended, group-incentive participants maintained greater weight loss than no incentive participants.   

Study Rundown: During the six-month intervention, obese employees randomized to a group-incentivized weight loss program lost more weight than those offered individual incentives or no incentives and maintained a greater weight loss than those randomized to no incentives even three months after the intervention ended. This study’s overall generalizability may be limited because of a heavily female (89%), white (63%), and educated (92% attended at least some college) sample that was drawn from a single employer. Strengths of this investigation included withholding identities of the group-incentive participants from one another to minimize within-group behavior modification and adjusting monthly weight-loss goals to maximize participant retention. Follow-up studies in other populations and with longer-term follow-up would help contextualize intervention effectiveness.

Click to read the study in Annals of Internal Medicine

Click to read an accompanying editorial in Annals of Internal Medicine

In Depth: This [randomized controlled] trial assessed the effect of workplace-based, financially incentivized weight loss interventions on 105 obese (body mass index (BMI): 30-40) adult hospital employees. Participants were randomized by sex, age, and BMI into one of three groups (n=35 for each): no incentives (control group), individual incentives ($100 awarded if participants met monthly weight-loss goals), and group incentives ($500 split monthly between a 5-person subgroup if they met monthly weight-loss goals). Weight loss was assessed monthly during the six-month intervention and again at 9 months; changes in physical activity, eating behaviors, and weight-related wellness program participation were also recorded.

At six months, group-incentive participants had lost more weight than individual-incentive (mean difference: 3.2 kg, p=0.008) and no-incentive participants (mean difference: 4.4 kg, p<0.001). When reassessed 3 months after incentives ended, group-incentive participants maintained greater weight loss compared to no-incentive participants but not compared to individual-incentive participants.

By Caroline Huang and Leah Hawkins

More from this author: Varenicline reduces post-quit smoking relapses, Severe maternal childhood abuse associated with autism in offspring

© 2013 2minutemedicine.com. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without written consent from 2minutemedicine.com. Disclaimer: We present factual information directly from peer reviewed medical journals. No post should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2minutemedicine.com. PLEASE SEE A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IN YOUR AREA IF YOU SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE OF ANY SORT. Content is produced in accordance with fair use copyrights solely and strictly for the purpose of teaching, news and criticism. No benefit, monetary or otherwise, is realized by any participants or the owner of this domain.