Paying obese people cash to lose weight doubles their rate of fat loss, study finds

Paying obese people to lose weight doubles their rate of fat loss, study finds.

Researchers asked 668 morbidly obese adults in New York and Los Angeles to lose 10 pounds (or 4.5 kg) in six months.

Within six months, up to half of those who received cash incentives achieved this goal, compared to 22% of study participants who received no monetary incentive.

Dr. Melanie Jay, a physician at NYU Langone, said her study provided “strong evidence” that cash incentives could help solve America’s bulging waistline.

Estimates show that four out of ten American adults are obese. Last week’s maps showed West Virginia, Arkansas and Kentucky to be the most obese states in America.

In the study – published today in JAMA Internal Medicine – scientists recruited 668 people between November 2017 and May 2021.

Participants weighed an average of 218 pounds (lbs) (98.8 kg) at the start of the study, with a BMI of nearly 38, which puts them in the morbidly obese range.

They were all from low-income households earning less than $40,000 a year, with more than eight in ten being women and between the ages of 18 and 70. The majority were of Hispanic origin.

They were divided into three groups, each tasked with losing around five percent of their body weight – or 10 pounds (4.5 kg) – in six months.

All participants were enrolled in a weekly meeting of the local weight management program and received a one-year membership in the WW Freestyle commercial weight loss program.

They also received a digital scale, food diary and FitBit tracker to help them track their progress.

All participants were advised to attend at least two WW Freestyle classes per month, weigh themselves three times per week, keep a food diary five days per week, and accumulate 75 minutes of physical activity per week .

During months four through six, the activity goal was increased to 150 minutes per week.

The researchers verified this by checking records, FitBit data, and class attendance sheets.

One group received no financial incentive to join the program.

But two other groups were offered financial incentives to earn up to $750 during the study period.

In one group – called the outcome-based group – participants were offered money based on how often they attended classes, exercised and followed the food diary.

Each received $150 for signing up and completing half of their weight management classes in the first month.

They were also offered $60 per month to attend at least half of the weekly program sessions for months two through six, $30 per month to use the food diary five days a week and weigh themselves three times a week, and $20 per month to complete physical activity goals.

In the other group – named the “goal-driven” group – participants’ cash incentives were tied to the amount of weight they lost.

In the first month, they were offered $50 for losing 1.5-2.5% of their weight or $100 if they had lost more than 2.5%.

In the second and third months, they were offered $50 per month if they lost 2.5-5% of their weight or $100 per month if they lost more than 5%.

And over the course of four to six months, they were paid $100 per month to lose 2.5-5% of their weight or $150 per month for more than 5%.

All weight loss percentages were compared to weight at the start of the program.

Money was paid out to participants as soon as goals were met to ensure it was matched with rewards.

The results showed that those who offered cash lost on average twice as much weight as those who offered no cash incentive.

Those in the goal-oriented group earned $440 over the study period, while those in the outcome group lost $303.

People in the outcome-based group lost the most at six months, which equates to 10.6 pounds (4.8 kg) on ​​average.

But those in the goal-led group lost almost as much on average at 9.8 pounds (4.5 kg).

Those in the group without financial incentives lost 4.9 pounds (2.2 kg) during the study period.

Dr Jay said: “Our study provides strong evidence that offering incentives, particularly cash rewards, even if only for six months, helps people of limited means struggling with obesity to lose weight.

“However, any kind of incentive to lose weight can work, even if it’s just about offering the tools to make it happen.”

The participants were also followed up after an additional six months to determine if the weight loss had been maintained.

Out of the cash groups, only the goal-driven team continued to lose weight, shaving another 2 pounds (0.9 kg).

The results-based group maintained their weight loss, and those who received no cash incentive lost an additional 0.5 kg (1.1 lb).

Some 61 participants dropped out or stopped showing up for appointments within the first six months for the goal-based group, compared with 51 in the incentive group and 54 in the non-cash incentive group.

Dr Jay said: “New tools are needed beyond encouragement and education to help some people struggling with obesity.”

“There is no single solution to America’s worsening overweight problem. Our national approach must include multiple approaches, including incentives tailored to the different needs of the groups most deeply affected by diseases and related illnesses. to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.