Journal
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
Volume 124, Issue 11, Pages 1082-1085Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2011.04.016
Keywords
Behavioral economics; Obesity; Reinforcement; Weight loss
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Funding
- University Connecticut Health Center [P30-DA023918, R01-DA024667, M01-RR006192]
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OBJECTIVE: Reinforcement-based treatments, based on behavioral economics models, can improve outcomes of medical conditions with behavioral components. This study evaluated the efficacy of a low-cost reinforcement intervention to produce initial weight loss. METHODS: Overweight individuals (n = 56) were randomized to one of two 12-week treatments: Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitudes, Relationships, Nutrition manual with supportive counseling or that same treatment with opportunities to win $1 to $100 prizes for losing weight and completing weight-loss activities. RESULTS: Patients receiving reinforcement lost significantly more weight (6.0% +/- 4.9% baseline bodyweight) than patients in the non-reinforcement condition (3.5% +/- 4.1%; P = .04). Moreover, 64.3% of patients receiving reinforcement achieved weight loss of >= 5% baseline bodyweight versus 25.0% of those in the non-reinforcement condition (P = .003). Proportional weight loss was significantly related to reductions in total cholesterol and 24-hour ambulatory heart rate. CONCLUSION: This reinforcement-based intervention substantially enhances short-term weight loss, and reductions in weight are associated with important changes in clinical biomarkers. Larger-scale evaluation of reinforcement-based treatments for weight loss is warranted. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. . The American Journal of Medicine (2011) 124, 1082-1085
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