Obesity And Cash Rewards

authored by

Boris Augurzky, Thomas K. Bauer, Arndt R. Reichert, Harald Tauchmann, Christoph M. Schmidt

Abstract

In a multi-phase randomized controlled trial, we examine the impacts of cash rewards of EUR 150 and EUR 300 for reducing body weight on the likelihood of weight loss and weight-related behavioral change among 700 obese individuals. We find effects during all experimental phases, including 18 months after exposure to the incentives. Additional monetary rewards of EUR 250 and EUR 500 provided to participants who had lost a substantial amount of body weight exerted only short-term effects.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Health Economics

External Organisation(s)

RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
World Bank
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg)
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Type

Article

Journal

Economics and human biology

Volume

57

No. of pages

19

ISSN

1570-677X

Publication date

05.2025

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2025.101492 (Access: Open)