Social and Financial Incentives to Increase Physical Activity Among Overweight and Obese Veterans

Physical Activity Clinical Trial

Official title: Evaluating Connected Health Approaches to Improving the Health of Veterans (CDA 15-065)

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

In this randomized, controlled trial the investigators will compare the use of social and financial incentive-based interventions to increase physical activity among overweight and obese Veterans during a 12-week intervention with 8 weeks of follow-up.

Clinical Trial Description

In this 3-arm randomized trial, the investigators will compare the effectiveness of a social incentive-based gamification intervention with and without loss-framed financial incentives to increase physical activity relative to a control among overweight and obese adults Veterans. All Veterans will use a Fitbit wearable device to establish a baseline step count, select a step goal increase of 33% to 50% above baseline and then participate in a 12-week intervention and 8-week follow-up period. The two intervention arms will be entered into a game with points and levels designed using insights from behavioral economics. They will be asked to select a social support partner who will receive weekly updates on their progress in the game. Veterans in one arm will also receive loss-framed financial incentives allocated to an account each week during the intervention and financial incentives taken away each day the step goal was not achieved. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Physical Activity

• NCT number: NCT03563027
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: VA Office of Research and Development
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: March 19, 2019
• Completion date: August 9, 2020