For losing weight, people should be paid money

New research shows that cash payments to obesity sufferers for weight loss and/or weight-reduction activities work better than any other method.

According to the researchers, cash beats providing standalone tools like weight-loss plans, diet books and wearable trackers.

The weight-loss efforts of 668 low income, predominantly Hispanic men or women over the course of a year was monitored by the researchers. Randomly, the researchers assigned each participant to one of three sets. This included some who received incentives for six month. cash payments Those who did not receive any.

Published in the journal JAMA Internal MedicineThe results showed that the most effective way to lose weight in the short-term was to offer study participants cash, $440 on average, and at least 5% of the original body weight (about 10 lbs). After six months, 49% of those who were offered cash lost that amount. After a year of follow up, this number fell to 41%.

In order to achieve weight-loss goals, study volunteers were paid an average $303 each over the initial period. The average weight loss of 39% and 42% respectively after six months and 12 months of monitoring was 5%.

All study participants were given a one year voucher to Weight Watchers. This program included counseling, classes, and tips on losing weight. They provided Fitbits and digital scales as well as food journals, so that the trial participants could track their weight throughout the course of the study.

One fifth of those who did not receive any financial incentives or were given the tools for free lost the minimum amount after six months. After a year, however, this number grew to nearly a third.

“Our study provides firm evidence that offering incentives, especially cash rewards, even if only for six months, helps people of limited means struggling with obesity to lose weight,” Melanie Jay, a senior investigator in the study and an associate professor at New York University Langone Health’s population health department, said that the findings were confirmed by Melanie Jay. “However, any kind of incentive to lose weight can work, even if it is just offering the tools to help do so.”

Jay warns that although the study showed a temporary benefit, more research is needed in order to determine if weight loss can be sustained over many years. Also, what periodic benefits may be experienced. “booster” To sustain the reductions in the unemployment rate, incentives are required long term.

Additionally, while weight loss incentives performed better in short term, they did not perform as well after a year. Incentives that were tied to weight-loss goals performed better over the long-term. Jay said that this indicates that goals-focused financial rewards might last longer than others.

It is important to further investigate obesity among more diverse groups, she said, not only urban Hispanics who are obese. These groups include Blacks, Native Americans, United States military vets, all of whom have been identified as being disproportionately affected.

To address the obesity epidemic in America, interventions are required. National reports indicate that more than 40% Americans are obese. A body mass index (or BMI) is a measure of height or weight.

“New tools are needed beyond encouragement and education to help some people struggling to cope with obesity,” says Jay, who also serves as director of NYU Langone’s Comprehensive Program on Obesity.

“There is no single solution to America’s worsening weight problem. Our national approach has to include multiple approaches, including incentives tailored to the different needs of groups most profoundly impacted by illness and disease tied to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.”

Researchers recruited volunteers from Los Angeles and New York City hospital-based clinics to conduct the study. This allowed them to track their diets, exercise routines, and weight reductions through monthly visits. The participants were aged between 18 and 70 years old, all from areas with less than $40,000. Participants were aged between 18 and 70 years old. They were all from neighborhoods with a median income of less than $40,000. Monthly payments were made to those who received cash incentives. These payments were made as weight loss or achievement goals were achieved.

Additional coauthors come from UCLA, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Cornell University.

The National Institutes of Health provided support for the work.

This article was originally published in NYU. Republished via Futurity.org 

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