Promise of cash works weight-loss wonders
The key to weight loss?
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Wednesday, 10, Dec 2008 12:01
US researchers seeking a solution to their country's growing obesity problem have come across a promising new incentive – money.
A study published in the Journal of American Medical Association found the fear of losing cash or prospect of gaining it proved an effective incentive for weight loss, at least over the short-term.
Fifty-seven participants were randomly assigned to a control programme, a lottery-based incentive plan or a deposit contract incentive plan.
Those in the latter two lost an average of 3.9lbs more than the control group as they sought to lose 16lbs in as many weeks.
Most subsequently gained weight in the seven months after the programmes took place, although they still weighed less than they did at the start of the study.
"In conclusion, incentive approaches based on behavioral economic concepts appear to be highly effective in inducing initial weight loss," the authors wrote.
"However, this weight loss was not fully sustained and further work is needed to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these approaches in achieving sustained weight loss."