A Theoretically Grounded Systematic Review of Material Incentives for Weight Loss: Implications for Interventions
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Providing material incentives for weight loss is a class of intervention strategies that has received considerable attention; however, the effectiveness of this class of strategies is uncertain. Attending to distinctions among incentive strategies may clarify our understanding of prior work and inform the design of future interventions. PURPOSE: A theoretical framework is proposed that distinguishes between four classes of incentive strategies and is used to organize randomized controlled trials of material incentives for weight loss. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted. RESULTS: Findings were mixed with regards to the overall efficacy of material incentives for weight loss. Three of the four proposed incentive categories are represented in the literature. Heterogeneous methods were used across studies rendering comparisons between studies difficult. CONCLUSIONS: Definitive conclusions about the usefulness of material incentives for weight loss could not be drawn. A theoretically grounded approach to designing and testing incentive strategies is encouraged.
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Few health or other behavioral interventions have adapted interval reward schedules to facilitate habit formation.
“Unfortunately, few health or other behavioral interventions have adapted interval reward schedules to facilitate habit formation (Burns et al. 2012).”
From Psychology of Habit. (2016) · cites this paper as Burns et al. 2012
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- Authors
- Burns, R. J., Donovan, A. S., Ackermann, R. T., Finch, E. A., Rothman, A. J., & Jeffery, R. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Indiana University Indianapolis (US)
- Northwestern University (US)
- Venue
- Annals of Behavioral Medicine
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2012-08-21
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 375-388
- ISSN
- 0742-5554 (ISSN-L)
- 0883-6612
- 1532-4796
- OpenAlex
- W2059235001
- Cited by
- 67
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5
- FWCI
- 1.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annals of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Keywords
- material incentives, weight loss, incentive measures, theoretical framework, obesity intervention, intervention design, randomized controlled trials
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Motivation, Weight Loss, Exercise
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