An NHS trial that offered a financial incentive to overweight men to shed the pounds has proved “effective” and could be rolled out further, say researchers.
The programme asked 585 obese men to lose weight over 12 months, with a cash reward of up to £400 for some to see if it would help them reach their target.
The University of Stirling found the payout in its study – called Game of Stones – made a “significant difference” compared to men who were not offered money.
The men were also sent daily text messages to offer tips and motivation including “walk a different route home to avoid the kebab shop” and “don’t treat your body like a skip”.
The approach saw better results than traditional slimming classes.
One of the men who took part in the trial, Francis McDonnell, 65, from Paisley, near Glasgow, who weighed 23 stone at the start of the trial, said a fall in the shower was the wake up call he needed to lose weight.
But it was the £400 payment that kept him motivated, he said.
“I’m vegetarian, so ate fairly healthily before, but I ate too much,” said the former car insurance claim handler. “So instead of having two Linda McCartney pies, beans and chips, I have one pie and just beans.
“I didn’t actually feel hungry because I felt motivated. I had been made redundant and £400 is a lot of money to me.”
The university team recruited men who are physically or mentally ill or experiencing socio-economic difficulty, who might not be able or willing to use traditional weight management services.
Trial participants were randomly assigned into three groups.
One received supportive text messages and were offered a cash payout if they reached their targets. They also had four brief ten-minute weigh-ins over the year. Those who lost 10 per cent of their body weight got the full £400.
Another group got text messages only, while a third dieted on their own with no messages or financial incentive.
‘I lost 3.5 stone’
Francis McDonnell’s weight had crept up and up over the years.
He used to play badminton two or three times a week, but his eyesight deterioration put a stop to that. With his portion sizes too large as well, he reached 23 stone.
His obesity had taken a toll – causing high blood pressure for which he need medication.
“One day I was having a shower and I fell,” said the 65-year-old from Paisley, near Glasgow. “It took me 30 minutes to get up. I thought, this needs to stop. It’s unfair to become a liability to my wife.”
So Francis started the trial in 2022 and was put into the full support group. He stuck with it for a year, losing 22kg (3.5 stone) – surpassing the 10 per cent target.
He eat Branflakes with fat-free milk or similar for breakfast, “a lot of salads” and home-made soup using a soup kettle. He also focused on cutting down his portion sizes.
“I’m vegetarian, so ate fairly healthily before, but I ate too much,” said the former car insurance claim handler. “So instead of having two Linda McCartney pies, beans and chips, I have one pie and just beans. I didn’t actually feel hungry because I felt motivated.
“I had been made redundant and £400 is a lot of money to me. I also found the text messages with tips and support from people who had done the trail before really helpful.”
Francis took up walking round a pond four or five days a week, clocking up around 8,000 steps each time.
Francis has since put on just over on a stone, but he says he is determined to shed it again and make a real lifestyle change.
The men in the first group with full support saw a 5 per cent weight loss. The second set who received text messages only lost some weight (3 per cent) and the third unsupported group only lost 1 per cent.
The study was funded by the government and led by the University of Stirling in partnership with the University of New Brunswick, Canada, University of Aberdeen, University of Glasgow, Queens University Belfast and the University of Bristol.
The research showed that offering cash incentives was a popular and effective way of helping men to lose weight
Professor Pat Hoddinott
The leader of the study, Professor Pat Hoddinott from the University of Stirling, said: “Losing weight can make people feel better, reduce their risk of many health problems such as diabetes, and helps the health service with their aim to keep men well. However, we know men often don’t like to go to traditional weight loss groups.
“The research showed that offering cash incentives was a popular and effective way of helping men to lose weight. This initiative would be a low-cost solution for the health service to offer to men, requiring only four short weight appointments, and with money paid out only at the end to those who lose over 5 per cent of their starting weight.”
Do you have a real life story? Email claudia.tanner@inews.co.uk.
