title: A pilot study testing the effect of different levels of financial incentives on weight loss among overweight employees.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that modest financial incentives can be effective in motivating overweight employees to lose weight.
authors.affiliation: RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, PO Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. finkelse@rti.org
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Linnan
authors.forename: Deborah F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: Ben E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Birken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000191:economics*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012201:Reward; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss; D017132:Workplace