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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01800591

UPHS Weight Loss Study

The goal of this study is to compare a novel approach using financial incentives to changes in health benefit design and their impact on employee weight loss.

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Key information

Conditions

Obesity Body Weight Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

About this study

Employers are increasingly looking for opportunities to encourage weight loss among employees. While studies have shown that financial incentives can effectively encourage weight loss, little is known about their use in health benefits design. The goal of this study is to determine whether a financial incentive program delivered to obese University of Pennsylvania Health System employees can effectively encourage weight loss when compared to changes in health benefit design.

This is a randomized controlled trial involving financial incentives with four study arms: control, delayed gratification, immediate gratification, and financial incentive with frequent feedback. Participation in this study will last about 12 months.

The primary goal of the study is to test the effects of a novel financial incentive program using a lottery with frequent feedback to normal benefit design structures.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults age 18-70
  • BMI of 30 or above

Exclusion criteria

  • Inability to consent
  • Illiteracy and/or inability to speak, read, and write English
  • Participation in another research study

Conditions that would make participation unsafe:

  • Current treatment for drug or alcohol use
  • Consumption of at least 5 alcoholic drinks per day
  • Myocardial infarction or stroke within the past 6 months
  • Current addiction to prescription medicines or street drugs
  • Serious psychiatric diagnoses (e.g., severe major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia)
  • Pregnant or currently breastfeeding
  • Diabetic and using any medicine besides metformin to control blood glucose
  • Metastatic cancer
  • Unstable medical conditions that would likely prevent the subject from completing the study
  • Previous diagnosis of an eating disorder
  • History of unsafe weight loss behaviors such as binging or the use of laxatives

Treatment and study plan

Financial incentive

Behavioral

Primary outcomes

  1. Total pounds of weight lost

    Time frame: 12 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Weight loss of 5% of initial weight

    Time frame: 12 months

Other outcomes

  1. Improvements in eating and physical activity habits

    Time frame: 12 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Other

Registry information

Official study title

UPHS Weight Loss Study: Evaluating Methods to Use Health Benefits Design to Encourage Employee Weight Loss

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Feb 27, 2013
Registry last updated
May 6, 2015

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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