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Comparative Effectiveness of Wellness Programs: Impact of Incentives on Healthcare Costs for Obese Enrollees.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Zivin, K; Sen, A; Plegue, MA; Maciejewski, ML; Segar, ML; AuYoung, M; Miller, EM; Janney, CA; Zulman, DM; Richardson, CR
Published in: Am J Prev Med
March 2017

INTRODUCTION: Employee wellness programs show mixed effectiveness results. This study examined the impact of an insurer's lifestyle modification program on healthcare costs of obese individuals. METHODS: This nonrandomized comparative effectiveness study evaluated changes in healthcare costs for participants in two incentivized programs, an Internet-mediated pedometer-based walking program (WalkingSpree, n=7,594) and an in-person weight-loss program (Weight Watchers, n=5,764). The primary outcome was the change in total healthcare costs from the baseline year to the year after program participation. Data were collected from 2009 to 2011 and the analysis was done in 2014-2015. RESULTS: After 1 year, unadjusted mean costs decreased in both programs, with larger decreases for Weight Watchers participants than WalkingSpree participants (-$1,055.39 vs -$577.10, p=0.019). This difference was driven by higher rates of women in Weight Watchers, higher baseline total costs among women, and a greater decrease in costs for women in Weight Watchers (-$1,037.60 vs -$388.50, p=0.014). After adjustment for baseline costs, there were no differences by program or gender. CONCLUSIONS: Comparable cost reductions in both programs suggest that employers may want to offer more than one choice of incentivized wellness program with monitoring to meet the diverse needs of employees.

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Published In

Am J Prev Med

DOI

EISSN

1873-2607

Publication Date

March 2017

Volume

52

Issue

3

Start / End Page

347 / 352

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Reduction Programs
  • Walking
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Public Health
  • Occupational Health
  • Obesity
  • Motivation
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Life Style
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Zivin, K., Sen, A., Plegue, M. A., Maciejewski, M. L., Segar, M. L., AuYoung, M., … Richardson, C. R. (2017). Comparative Effectiveness of Wellness Programs: Impact of Incentives on Healthcare Costs for Obese Enrollees. Am J Prev Med, 52(3), 347–352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2016.10.006
Zivin, Kara, Ananda Sen, Melissa A. Plegue, Matthew L. Maciejewski, Michelle L. Segar, Mona AuYoung, Erin M. Miller, Carol A. Janney, Donna M. Zulman, and Caroline R. Richardson. “Comparative Effectiveness of Wellness Programs: Impact of Incentives on Healthcare Costs for Obese Enrollees.Am J Prev Med 52, no. 3 (March 2017): 347–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2016.10.006.
Zivin K, Sen A, Plegue MA, Maciejewski ML, Segar ML, AuYoung M, et al. Comparative Effectiveness of Wellness Programs: Impact of Incentives on Healthcare Costs for Obese Enrollees. Am J Prev Med. 2017 Mar;52(3):347–52.
Zivin, Kara, et al. “Comparative Effectiveness of Wellness Programs: Impact of Incentives on Healthcare Costs for Obese Enrollees.Am J Prev Med, vol. 52, no. 3, Mar. 2017, pp. 347–52. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2016.10.006.
Zivin K, Sen A, Plegue MA, Maciejewski ML, Segar ML, AuYoung M, Miller EM, Janney CA, Zulman DM, Richardson CR. Comparative Effectiveness of Wellness Programs: Impact of Incentives on Healthcare Costs for Obese Enrollees. Am J Prev Med. 2017 Mar;52(3):347–352.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Prev Med

DOI

EISSN

1873-2607

Publication Date

March 2017

Volume

52

Issue

3

Start / End Page

347 / 352

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Reduction Programs
  • Walking
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Public Health
  • Occupational Health
  • Obesity
  • Motivation
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Life Style