title: Enhancing physical activity and reducing obesity through smartcare and financial incentives: A pilot randomized trial.
abstract: A pilot randomized trial assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of an intervention combining Smartcare (activity tracker with a smartphone application) and financial incentives.
  
  
  
  A three-arm, open-label randomized controlled trial design involving traditional education, Smartcare, and Smartcare with financial incentives was involved in this study. The latter group received financial incentives depending on the achievement of daily physical activity goals (process incentive) and weight loss targets (outcome incentive). Male university students (N = 105) with body mass index of ≥27 were enrolled.
  
  
  
  The average weight loss in the traditional education, Smartcare, and Smartcare with financial incentives groups was -0.4, -1.1, and -3.1 kg, respectively, with significantly greater weight loss in the third group (both Ps < 0.01). The final weight loss goal was achieved by 0, 2, and 10 participants in the traditional education, Smartcare, and Smartcare with financial incentives groups (odds ratio for the Smartcare with financial incentive vs. Smartcare = 7.27, 95% confidence interval: 1.45-36.47). Levels of physical activity were significantly higher in this group.
  
  
  
  The addition of financial incentives to Smartcare was effective in increasing physical activity and reducing obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Center for Health Promotion & Optimal Aging, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Center for Health Promotion & Optimal Aging, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Moon
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Center for Health Promotion & Optimal Aging, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyuktae
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Seoul National University Health Service Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Joh
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Joo
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Center for Health Promotion & Optimal Aging, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Services Management, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kee-Taig
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital & College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Center for Health Promotion & Optimal Aging, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Laboratory of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: BeLong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D055815:Young Adult