The “Game of Stones” trial demonstrated that text messages combined with monetary rewards considerably enhance weight loss amongst males with weight problems, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.A study discovered that monetary rewards integrated with text messages successfully aid weight loss in obese men, recommending a scalable, cost-efficient approach for health services to adopt.Men in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland used up to ₤ 400 (~$ 500) for striking weight loss targets lost more weight than those not offered cash incentiveWin-win strategy might pay for itself, state researchersA brand-new research study presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy, and released concurrently in JAMA, has actually concluded that text messages with financial rewards can help guys who are living with weight problems lose weight and could be a valuable option to traditional weight management programs.Men who were provided money for hitting weight loss targets lost more weight than those not provided a monetary incentive, the UK-based Game of Stones trial found.Around 26% of males in the UK are living with obesity. Males are under-represented in weight loss trials and less likely than females to go to conventional weight loss groups– and this is particularly the case for males from lower socioeconomic groups.Professor Pat Hoddinott, of the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit at the University of Stirling and team desired to check out whether the mix of text messages and money incentives would help males, including those from lower socioeconomic groups, lose weight.She describes: “One of the most reliable reward strategies in the literature utilizes deposit contracts, where individuals transfer their own cash and lose it if they do not meet weight loss goals. ₤ 50 would be taken away if they didnt lose 5% of their body weight after 3 months, ₤ 150 taken away if they didnt lose 10% of their weight after 6 months, and ₤ 200 taken away if they hadnt maintained the 10% weight loss after a year.The males assigned to the text messaging alone group (n= 194) got the exact same text messages and could utilize all the functions on the research study website however were not offered monetary rewards for weight loss.Those in the control group (n= 195) only had access to the evidence-based weight management details.426/ 585 of the guys logged their weight after 12 months.Results and EffectivenessThe males in the text messaging with financial incentives group lost the most weight. In contrast, weight loss in the text messaging alone group did not differ considerably from the control group.Four males would require to get text messages with monetary rewards for one to accomplish weight loss of 5% or more and 5 would require to take part for one to achieve weight loss of at least 10%, state the researchers.The guys in the text messaging with monetary incentives group got ₤ 128 each, on average, with 27 getting the full ₤ 400.
The “Game of Stones” trial showed that text messages combined with monetary incentives considerably boost weight loss among guys with weight problems, especially those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.A study found that monetary rewards integrated with text messages successfully help weight loss in obese males, recommending a scalable, cost-efficient method for health services to adopt.Men in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland used up to ₤ 400 (~$ 500) for hitting weight loss targets lost more weight than those not given cash incentiveWin-win method could pay for itself, say researchersA brand-new research study provided at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy, and released at the same time in JAMA, has concluded that text messages with monetary incentives can help males who are living with weight problems lose weight and could be a valuable option to standard weight management programs.Men who were provided money for hitting weight loss targets lost more weight than those not offered a monetary incentive, the UK-based Game of Stones trial found.Around 26% of males in the UK are living with weight problems. Men are under-represented in weight loss trials and less likely than ladies to participate in conventional weight loss groups– and this is particularly the case for guys from lower socioeconomic groups.Professor Pat Hoddinott, of the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit at the University of Stirling and team wanted to explore whether the combination of text messages and cash incentives would help males, consisting of those from lower socioeconomic groups, lose weight.She discusses: “One of the most reliable incentive strategies in the literature utilizes deposit agreements, where individuals transfer their own money and lose it if they do not fulfill weight loss objectives. ₤ 50 would be taken away if they didnt lose 5% of their body weight after 3 months, ₤ 150 taken away if they didnt lose 10% of their weight after 6 months, and ₤ 200 taken away if they hadnt kept the 10% weight loss after a year.The men designated to the text messaging alone group (n= 194) received the very same text messages and could use all the functions on the study website but were not offered financial rewards for weight loss.Those in the control group (n= 195) only had access to the evidence-based weight management information.426/ 585 of the males logged their weight after 12 months.Results and EffectivenessThe males in the text messaging with monetary incentives group lost the most weight.