title: Willingness to pay for continued delivery of a lifestyle-based weight loss program: The Hopkins POWER trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In behavioral studies of weight loss programs, participants typically receive interventions free of charge. Understanding an individual's willingness to pay (WTP) for weight loss programs could be helpful when evaluating potential funding models. This study assessed WTP for the continuation of a weight loss program at the end of a weight loss study.
  
  
  METHODS
  WTP was assessed with monthly coaching contacts at the end of the two-year Hopkins POWER trial. Interview-administered questionnaires determined the amount participants were willing to pay for continued intervention. Estimated maximum payment was calculated among those willing to pay and was based on quantile regression adjusted for age, body mass index, race, sex, household income, treatment condition, and weight change at 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the participants (N=234), 95% were willing to pay for continued weight loss intervention; the adjusted median payment was $45 per month. Blacks had a higher adjusted median WTP ($65/month) compared to Non-Blacks ($45/month), P=0.021.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A majority of participants were willing to pay for a continued weight loss intervention with a median monthly amount that was similar to the cost of commercial weight loss programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Towson University, Towson, Maryland, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Gerald J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Jerome
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alavi
authors.forename: Gail L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Daumit
authors.forename: Nae-Yuh
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Nowella
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Durkin
authors.forename: Hsin-Chieh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Jeanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalcin
authors.forename: Janelle W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Coughlin
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charleston
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Appel
mesh_terms: D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000191:economics*