Project Step II: The Effects of Incentives and Feedback on Promoting Walking Within Overweight and Obese Adults

Drexel University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physical Activity; Overweight and Obesity; Sedentary Lifestyle

Treatments: Behavioral: Daily feedback; Behavioral: Weekly feedback; Behavioral: Non-contingent incentives; Behavioral: Contingent incentives

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03574519

1601004185-2

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will evaluate the main effects of daily vs. weekly feedback and contingent vs. non-contingent incentives for increasing walking behavior among overweight and obese adults.

Full description

Approximately 68% of adults are overweight or obese, which is associated with increased risk for health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. These individuals are more often sedentary than the general population, which compounds the risk for these same conditions. While the benefits of engaging in physical activity are well-established, few individuals are able to successfully increase activity to recommended levels. Existing intervention programs, often derived from theories such as social cognitive theory or related theories, have had limited success. Behavioral economics offers a promising alternative, suggesting that engagement in any behavior is based on the maximizing utility and happiness (i.e., weighing the cost and benefit of the behavior). Interventions based on this theory aim to increase the immediate benefit of engaging in physical activity, often using a financial incentive.

This study will last for 8 weeks. All participants will have the use of a FitBit for ongoing self-monitoring and a personalized step-count goal designed to help increase daily steps. Participants will receive feedback on reaching their goals either daily or weekly.

Enrollment: 61 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 25 kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤ 45 kg/m2
• Age 18-70
• Currently inactive (engages in less than 6,000 steps/day on at least 4 of 7 days per week OR engaged in less than 10,000 steps /day on at least 5/7 days per week, confirmed by FitBit at baseline)
• Able to engage in moderate amount of walking
• Able to receive email/text messages from study staff

Exclusion criteria

• Psychiatric conditions that would make it difficult to comply
• Medical conditions that would make it difficult to comply

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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61 participants in 4 patient groups

Non-contingent incentives and weekly feedback

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive payment for participating in the study (regardless of goal attainment) and will receive weekly updates about their performance.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Weekly feedback

Behavioral: Non-contingent incentives

Non-contingent incentives and daily feedback

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive payment for participating in the study (regardless of goal attainment) and will receive daily updates about their performance.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Non-contingent incentives

Behavioral: Daily feedback

Contingent incentives and weekly feedback

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive payment for meeting their daily goals and will receive weekly updates about their performance.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Weekly feedback

Behavioral: Contingent incentives

Contingent incentives and daily feedback

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive payment for meeting their daily goals and will receive daily updates about their performance.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Contingent incentives

Behavioral: Daily feedback