Behavioral Economics mHealth for Obesity

(RISE Trial)

Overseen By Denise F Pierre, BS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Connecticut

Must not be taking: Insulin

Disqualifiers: Heart condition, Pregnancy, Diabetes, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new method to help people lose weight using mobile phone technology. It compares two approaches: one applies principles from behavioral economics (methods that influence decision-making), and the other uses a standard mobile health (mHealth) program. The goal is to determine which method is more effective for weight loss in adults who qualify for certain public benefits and have access to a smartphone. Ideal participants are adults with a BMI (a measure of body fat based on height and weight) between 25 and 55, who are not currently involved in any weight loss treatments. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to innovative research that could shape future weight loss programs.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you have diabetes and are on insulin, you cannot participate in the trial.

What prior data suggests that this behavioral economics intervention is safe for weight loss?

A previous study reported no safety concerns with using mobile phone methods for weight loss. Participants handled these methods well. Research has shown that mobile health (mHealth) tools can aid in weight loss and improve eating habits without causing harm. Although this study uses a behavioral economics approach, similar mobile health methods have shown no negative effects. Overall, the treatment appears safe based on available data. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these treatments for obesity because they leverage mobile health (mHealth) technology to deliver a behavioral weight loss intervention, making it more accessible and convenient for participants. The BE mHealth treatment stands out by integrating behavioral economics components, which aim to influence decision-making and encourage healthier lifestyle choices in a more engaging way. By utilizing smartphones, these interventions can provide real-time support and feedback, potentially increasing adherence and effectiveness compared to traditional in-person programs.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for weight loss?

Research has shown that mobile phone apps can help people lose weight. Studies have found that these apps can lead to an average weight loss of about 1.7 kg and can improve eating habits. In this trial, participants will receive either a standard mobile health (mHealth) intervention or a Behavioral Economics mHealth (BE mHealth) intervention. The BE mHealth intervention combines mobile health tools with strategies that encourage better decision-making, potentially enhancing these effects. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Tricia Leahey, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Connecticut

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults aged 18-75 with a BMI of 25-55 who are from low-income backgrounds and willing to use their smartphone for the study. It's not for those currently in weight loss treatment, with recent significant weight loss, bariatric surgery history, pregnancy plans within a year, certain medical or heart conditions, insulin-treated diabetes, or inability to walk short distances.

Inclusion Criteria

BMI between 25-55kg/m2

Low SES and/or report qualifying for federal, state or local benefits

All racial/ethnic groups

Exclusion Criteria

I have heart issues, chest pain during rest or activity, or have fainted.

Report unable to read and write English

I can't walk 2 blocks without stopping.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive a 12-month behavioral weight loss intervention delivered primarily via mobile phone (mHealth) with behavioral economics components

12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for weight change and other outcomes after the treatment phase

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• BE mHealth
• mHealth

Trial Overview The study tests if a behavioral economics-based mobile health intervention (BE mHealth) is more effective at supporting healthy eating and exercise habits than a standard mobile health approach (mHealth) among economically disadvantaged adults aiming to lose weight.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Behavioral Economics intervention (BE mHealth) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will receive a 12-month behavioral weight loss intervention delivered primarily via mobile phone (mHealth) that includes behavioral economics components.

Group II: Standard mHealth intervention (mHealth) Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will receive a 12-month behavioral weight loss intervention delivered primarily via mobile phone (mHealth).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Connecticut

Lead Sponsor

Trials

194

Recruited

162,000+

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

Collaborator

Trials

2,513

Recruited

4,366,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Mobile eHealth behavioral interventions have the potential to effectively promote and sustain weight loss and maintenance, especially when they are well-designed and tailored to individual needs.

The review highlights that tailored informational interventions have been the most successful conventional methods for weight loss, and the advancements in mobile technology present new opportunities to enhance these interventions for broader public health impact.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile eHealth interventions for obesity: a timely opportunity to leverage convergence trends. Tufano, JT., Karras, BT.[2018]

Inpatient rehabilitation for obesity should involve a multidisciplinary team, including various health professionals, to effectively improve weight loss and address related health issues.

Internet-based and mobile health (mHealth) technologies can enhance long-term obesity rehabilitation by improving treatment compliance and engagement, suggesting a promising direction for future research in this field.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Obesity and outpatient rehabilitation using mobile technologies: the potential mHealth approach. Castelnuovo, G., Manzoni, GM., Pietrabissa, G., et al.[2022]

In a 12-month study involving 70 adults with obesity, the group using mobile technology for self-monitoring and coaching lost an average of 3.9 kg more than the standard treatment group, indicating enhanced weight loss efficacy.

Participants in the mobile technology group had significantly higher odds (6.5 times greater) of losing at least 5% of their baseline weight compared to those receiving standard care alone, suggesting that mobile technology can effectively support weight loss efforts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Integrating technology into standard weight loss treatment: a randomized controlled trial. Spring, B., Duncan, JM., Janke, EA., et al.[2021]

A pilot trial involving 34 rural women showed that a 6-month behavioral weight loss program delivered via group phone calls resulted in greater weight loss (mean 14.9 kg) compared to individual phone counseling (mean 9.5 kg), indicating that group support may enhance treatment efficacy.

The group phone-based treatment was not only more effective, with 62% of participants achieving a 10% weight loss goal compared to 50% in the individual condition, but it was also found to be more cost-effective, suggesting a promising strategy for obesity management in rural areas.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Group versus individual phone-based obesity treatment for rural women. Befort, CA., Donnelly, JE., Sullivan, DK., et al.[2021]

Financial incentives based on behavioral economics significantly increased the odds of health behavior change, with participants having nearly four times higher odds of changing their behavior compared to those in the control group (odds ratio of 3.96).

The effectiveness of these financial incentives did not vary significantly by demographic factors such as gender, age, or education, but showed that Black participants had higher odds of behavior change compared to White participants when using conditional payments, while higher-income individuals had lower odds of change with a specific incentive structure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of behavioral economic incentive design and demographic characteristics in financial incentive-based approaches to changing health behaviors: a meta-analysis. Haff, N., Patel, MS., Lim, R., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9171196/

Effectiveness of mHealth/eHealth interventions on obesity ... The aim of the paper was to systematically summarise published studies about the weight loss efficacy of mHealth/eHealth.

2. mhealth.jmir.org mhealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e63313

Behavior Change Resources Used in Mobile App–Based ... Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates that mobile phone app interventions significantly reduce weight, BMI, WC, fat mass, DBP, and HbA1c ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589537023004868

Effectiveness of holistic mobile health interventions on diet ... In the meta-analysis, holistic mHealth interventions were associated with significant weight loss (9 RCTs; mean difference −1.70 kg, 95% CI −2.45 to −0.95; I2 = ...

4. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/1/74

Trends and Perspectives of mHealth in Obesity Control Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of mHealth interventions for weight control in promoting weight loss, improving dietary behaviors, and ...

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1671649/full

Beyond weight loss: digital therapeutic for behavioral ... This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Lifeness DTx for obesity care and its effect on anthropometrics, reward-related eating behaviors ...

6. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/behavioral-economics-mhealth-for-obesity-01c3a

Behavioral Economics mHealth for Obesity (RISE Trial) The studies reviewed did not report any safety concerns related to the use of mobile phone-based interventions for weight loss, suggesting that these methods ...

7. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02531763

Behavioral Economics Framingham Incentive Trial (BE FIT) BE FIT (Behavioral Economics Framingham Incentive Trial) is a pilot study to test the deployment of a social incentive intervention using the Framingham ...

8. mhealth.jmir.org mhealth.jmir.org/2019/10/e12612/

Assessment of the Efficacy, Safety, and Effectiveness of ... Objective: The aim of this study was to identify efficacy, safety, and effectiveness criteria used to assess weight control, overweight, and ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11422729/

Effectiveness of an mHealth App That Uses Financial ... This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of gamification techniques and financial incentives used in the novel “CommitFit” mHealth app to motivate health ...