Personalized Financial Incentives for Obesity

(Log2LoseAI Trial)

Overseen By Fiona Robertson

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Utah

Must not be taking: Insulin, Sulfonylureas, Meglitinides, others

Disqualifiers: Obesity, Cancer, Heart disease, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 24 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if personalized financial rewards can help individuals adhere to a weight-loss program by tracking their diet and losing weight. Participants may receive monetary rewards for progress in weight loss and diet tracking. The trial seeks individuals who are at least 18 years old, have obesity (a BMI of 30 or higher), wish to lose weight, and are willing to join virtual group classes and use a smartphone app to track their progress. As an unphased trial, participants can contribute to innovative research that may lead to new weight-loss strategies.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but certain medications like insulin, sulfonylureas, meglitinides, and high doses of some diuretics are not allowed. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the trial team.

What prior data suggests that personalized financial incentives are safe for weight loss programs?

Research has shown that using personalized financial rewards to aid weight loss is generally safe. One study found that these rewards not only facilitated weight loss but also did not cause major side effects, indicating the approach is usually well-accepted. A review of studies from 1972 to 2010 confirmed that financial incentives can help people manage their weight without causing harm. While these findings are promising, individuals should consider their own health before starting any new program. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about personalized financial incentives for obesity because they offer a novel approach that differs from standard treatments like diet, exercise, or medications. Unlike traditional methods, this approach uses financial rewards to motivate individuals based on their unique responses to incentives. It's a personalized strategy that could make weight loss efforts more effective by tapping into what motivates each person. This method could potentially transform how we approach obesity management, making it more tailored and engaging for individuals.

What evidence suggests that personalized financial incentives are effective for weight loss?

Research has shown that offering money can help people lose weight. For example, when financial rewards were added to weight loss programs, teenagers with severe obesity lost more weight and body fat. Another study found that setting goals and offering money for reaching them helped people lose weight more effectively than just providing resources. These financial rewards proved cost-effective, especially for those with low incomes. In this trial, participants may receive personalized financial incentives for weight loss if their performance indicates a positive response to such incentives, encouraging them to stick to their weight loss goals by rewarding their progress. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) who want to lose weight and are willing to attend virtual classes, use a Fitbit app daily, and have reliable internet access. They must be able to stand on a scale, speak English, and join video calls. Excluded are those over 380lbs or with recent significant weight loss, current cancer treatment (except certain skin cancers), unstable heart disease or advanced kidney disease.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability to download and use Fitbit app daily

Verified obesity as defined as a BMI ≥30 kg/m2

Agree to review study materials between classes

Exclusion Criteria

Weight > 380lbs

Currently enrolled or enrolled in the previous month in a clinical, research, or community program focusing on lifestyle change that could affect weight

Pregnant, lactating or planning on becoming pregnant during the study

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

0 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a clinician-facilitated, group-based behavioral weight-loss program with personalized financial incentives for 24 weeks

24 weeks

Weekly self-monitoring via mobile app and cellular scale

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for retention and changes in body weight after the treatment phase

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Personalized Financial Incentives

Trial Overview The study tests if personalized financial rewards can help people stick to their diet plans and lose weight when they're part of a structured program led by a dietitian. Participants will monitor their eating habits using technology and receive incentives based on their progress.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Personalized incentives Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants may receive financial incentives for weight loss if their performance suggests they respond to financial incentives.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Utah

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,169

Recruited

1,623,000+

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Collaborator

Trials

3,987

Recruited

47,860,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07225426

NCT07225426 | Personalizing Financial Incentives Every week, a reinforcement learning algorithm will process data on weight loss, calorie logging, and incentives earned to predict that their ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11184501/

Financial Incentives and Treatment Outcomes in ... In this study, adding FIs to MRT resulted in greater reductions in BMI and total body fat in adolescents with severe obesity without increased ...

3. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2799223

Effectiveness of Goal-Directed and Outcome-Based ... Outcome-based and goal-directed financial incentives were more effective than resources only for weight loss in this low-income population.

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41366-023-01404-3

Cost-effectiveness of goal-directed and outcome-based ... Goal-directed and outcome-based financial incentives were cost-effective strategies for helping low-income individuals with obesity lose weight.

5. arxiv.org arxiv.org/abs/2307.00444

[2307.00444] An Adaptive Optimization Approach to ... In this paper, we consider this challenge of designing personalized weight loss interventions that use direct financial incentives to motivate weight loss ...

6. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/392331707_EXPRESS_An_Adaptive_Optimization_Approach_to_Personalized_Financial_Incentives_in_Behavioral_Interventions

An Adaptive Optimization Approach to Personalized ... In this paper, we consider this challenge of designing personalized weight loss interventions that use direct financial incentives to motivate weight loss while ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1570677X25000255

Obesity And Cash Rewards We examine the impacts of cash rewards of EUR 150 and EUR 300 for reducing body weight on the likelihood of weight loss and weight-related behavioral change.

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3342479/

Financial Incentives and Weight Control - PubMed Central - NIH This paper reviews research studies evaluating the use of financial incentives to promote weight control conducted between 1972 and 2010.