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A pilot study testing the effect of different levels of financial incentives on weight loss among overweight employees.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Finkelstein, EA; Linnan, LA; Tate, DF; Birken, BE
Published in: J Occup Environ Med
September 2007

OBJECTIVE: To test the ability of two levels of modest financial incentives to encourage weight loss among overweight employees. METHODS: This study used a randomized design with measurements at baseline, 3, and 6 months and two levels of financial incentives ($7 and $14 per percentage point of weight lost). Payments were structured so that all participants had equal ability to obtain the incentives during the study period. RESULTS: At 3 months, participants with no financial incentive lost 2 pounds, those in the $7 group lost approximately 3 pounds, and those in the $14 group lost 4.7 pounds. Between baseline and 6 months, when the financial gains were equalized, weight losses were similar across groups. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that modest financial incentives can be effective in motivating overweight employees to lose weight.

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Published In

J Occup Environ Med

DOI

EISSN

1536-5948

Publication Date

September 2007

Volume

49

Issue

9

Start / End Page

981 / 989

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workplace
  • Weight Loss
  • Time Factors
  • Reward
  • Prevalence
  • Pilot Projects
  • Overweight
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
 

Citation

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Finkelstein, E. A., Linnan, L. A., Tate, D. F., & Birken, B. E. (2007). A pilot study testing the effect of different levels of financial incentives on weight loss among overweight employees. J Occup Environ Med, 49(9), 981–989. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e31813c6dcb
Finkelstein, Eric A., Laura A. Linnan, Deborah F. Tate, and Ben E. Birken. “A pilot study testing the effect of different levels of financial incentives on weight loss among overweight employees.J Occup Environ Med 49, no. 9 (September 2007): 981–89. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e31813c6dcb.
Finkelstein EA, Linnan LA, Tate DF, Birken BE. A pilot study testing the effect of different levels of financial incentives on weight loss among overweight employees. J Occup Environ Med. 2007 Sep;49(9):981–9.
Finkelstein, Eric A., et al. “A pilot study testing the effect of different levels of financial incentives on weight loss among overweight employees.J Occup Environ Med, vol. 49, no. 9, Sept. 2007, pp. 981–89. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/JOM.0b013e31813c6dcb.
Finkelstein EA, Linnan LA, Tate DF, Birken BE. A pilot study testing the effect of different levels of financial incentives on weight loss among overweight employees. J Occup Environ Med. 2007 Sep;49(9):981–989.

Published In

J Occup Environ Med

DOI

EISSN

1536-5948

Publication Date

September 2007

Volume

49

Issue

9

Start / End Page

981 / 989

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workplace
  • Weight Loss
  • Time Factors
  • Reward
  • Prevalence
  • Pilot Projects
  • Overweight
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans