Internet Assisted Obesity Treatment Enhanced With Financial Incentives



Status:Active, not recruiting
Conditions:Obesity Weight Loss
Therapuetic Areas:Endocrinology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - Any
Updated:2/15/2018
Start Date:December 2015
End Date:September 2019

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The investigators propose a randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether the addition of
financial incentives to a high-quality, online behavioral weight loss intervention produces
better weight losses than the online treatment alone.

Overweight and obese but otherwise healthy participants (N=416) will be recruited in
approximately equal numbers at two clinical centers, the University of South Carolina and the
University of Vermont. Eligible participants will be randomized to one of two conditions: 1)
an 18-month, 36-session group Internet behavioral weight control treatment (Internet Only)
which replicates the intervention the investigators have implemented previously; or 2) the
same 18-month, 36-session group Internet treatment plus financial incentives for performance
of 3 key self-management behaviors (Internet+ Incentive). Both conditions will have access to
the same web-based intervention platform and the same counselor-delivered intervention
elements; the presence of economic incentives for behavioral and weight goals is the only
difference between the conditions. Assessments will be conducted at Baseline, 2, 6, 12 and 18
months. Cost data will be collected to inform cost effectiveness evaluations.

Inclusion Criteria:

- over 18

- BMI between 25 and 50

- Not currently pregnant or pregnant in the previous 6 months and currently
breastfeeding or planning on becoming pregnant in 18 months

- Have a computer at home or at work with flashplayer, access to the internet, and a
smart phone (to allow use of step counting aps)

- Free of medical problems that might contraindicate participation in a behavioral
weight reduction program containing an exercise component

- Not enrolled in another weight reduction program

- Not currently on medication that would affect weight loss

Exclusion Criteria:

- had a heart attack or stroke in the previous six months

- had weight loss surgery

- lost 10 pounds or more in the previous 6 months

- currently taking medications for weight loss

- required by their doctor to follow a special diet (other than low fat)

- planning to move out of the area within 18 months

- schedule conflicts making it difficult to attend online "chats"

- live more than 60 minutes driving distance from either University of South Carolina or
University of Vermont campuses
We found this trial at
2
sites
Burlington, Vermont 05405
Principal Investigator: Jean Harvey-Berino, PhD, RD
Phone: 802-656-1960
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Burlington, VT
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Columbia, South Carolina 29208
Phone: 803-576-5807
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Columbia, SC
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