title: Combined incentives versus no-incentive exercise programs on objectively measured physical activity and health-related variables.
abstract: Incentivized exercise program interventions have recently led to mixed findings with regard to increasing physical activity, attendance, and improving healthy lifestyles. However, in this area limited research exists on implementing a combined negative reinforcement strategy, using a "buy-in" and positive reinforcement system.
  
  
  
  To determine the effect of comparing a non-incentivized reward system with an incentivized reward system using combined positive and negative rewards on physical activity, attendance, and health and performance outcomes.
  
  
  
  15 Previously sedentary faculty and staff of a large public research university participated in two separate 12-week exercise interventions and wore a program accelerometer throughout the entire day during the 12weeks. During the first intervention, there were no incentives offered to participants. The second intervention consisted of an incentivized program. Positive reinforcements included various rewards for meeting achievements related to physical activity levels. A program rebate worth $25 for achieving 450miles was used as the negative reinforcement "buy-in" incentive.
  
  
  
  A two-way repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated a main effect of time for percent body fat (p<0.001) and push-ups (p=0.018). All other variables revealed no differences between conditions or from pre to post testing. There was no difference between conditions with physical activity or attendance.
  
  
  
  No differences in physical activity or health-related variables were found within the incentivized and non-incentivized conditions.
authors.affiliation: Kent State University, Exercise Science, 350 Midway Drive Kent, OH 44242, United States. Electronic address: cfennel1@kent.edu.
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fennell
authors.affiliation: Kent State University, Exercise Science, 350 Midway Drive Kent, OH 44242, United States.
authors.forename: Hayden
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerhart
authors.affiliation: Kent State University, Exercise Science, 350 Midway Drive Kent, OH 44242, United States.
authors.forename: Yongsuk
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Kent State University, Exercise Science, 350 Midway Drive Kent, OH 44242, United States.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hauge
authors.affiliation: Kent State University, Exercise Science, 350 Midway Drive Kent, OH 44242, United States.
authors.forename: Ellen L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Glickman
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology*; D012201:Reward
keywords: Exercise; Extrinsic rewards; Group; Incentives; Intervention; Physical activity