Obese people are four times more likely to lose weight if they are offered pounds at the end of their weight loss journey, according to new British research.
Professor Pat Hoddinott of the University of Stirling in Scotland led the year-long study, which was published in the journal JAMA Network. The study, called Game of Stones, involved 585 men with an average BMI of 37.7 from Bristol, England, Belfast, Ireland, and Glasgow, Scotland. This study found that in addition to offering financial incentives, sending motivational text messages that included information about lifestyle changes and online resources encouraged people to lose weight. I found out that.
Study participants were divided into three groups. One group was given a cash incentive and a motivational text message, another group was given only a motivational text message, and a third group was given neither.
Those who were offered money and received text messages lost an average of 4.8 percent in weight, those who received only text messages lost 2.7 percent, and those who received neither lost just 1.3 percent.
“Losing weight makes people feel better, reduces the risk of many health problems such as diabetes, and also helps health services aimed at maintaining men's health.'' We know that many people don't like going to groups,” Hoddinott said in a JAMA press release.
“This is a very carefully designed study, created by men, for men. “Over 1,000 men living with obesity provided input into the design of the incentive structure,” Hoddint added.
One group of participants were told that they had $507 in their account that they would receive at the end of the study, but that the money would be withdrawn if they did not meet their weight loss goals. Of those in this group, 27 received the full amount. On average, those men received $162.
“Research has shown that offering cash incentives is a common and effective way to help men lose weight. This initiative is a low-cost solution for health services to offer men. , there will be only four short-term weigh-in appointments, and those who have lost more than 5% of their starting weight will only be paid at the end,” Hodint said. release.