NCT04954547

Brief Summary

This 24-week-long study compares the effectiveness of two types of incentives for weight loss: 1) conditional subsidy 2) financial goal reward. Target participants are overweight female Singaporeans or Permanent Residents who are otherwise healthy.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
800

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Aug 2021

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 21, 2021

Completed
17 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 8, 2021

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

August 23, 2021

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2022

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2022

Completed
Last Updated

April 29, 2022

Status Verified

April 1, 2022

Enrollment Period

1.4 years

First QC Date

June 21, 2021

Last Update Submit

April 24, 2022

Conditions

Overweight

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

  • Whether reaching the prescribed PBF goal

    This is binary variable, which is 1 if the participant reaches the prescribed PBF goal, and 0 otherwise

    At the end of the 12 weeks

  • Whether maintaining what has achieved in the post-treatment period

    This is binary variable, which is 1 if the participant loses more fat in the post-treatment period than in the intervention period, and 0 otherwise.

    At the end of the 24 weeks

  • Achievement Percentage

    A percentage of the change in PBF from the predetermined change in PBF

    At the end of the 24 weeks

  • Weekly Achievement Percentage

    A percentage of the change in PBF from the predetermined change in PBF

    Through study completion (24 weeks)

Study Arms (3)

Subsidy Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the arm will receive $$50 if they reach the PBF goal and will be subsidized on approved health-improving expenses.

Behavioral: Subsidy Treatment

Cash Arm

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the arm will receive S$350 if they reach the PBF goal.

Behavioral: Cash Treatment

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Other than the participation fees, no additional incentives will be provided.

Interventions

Subsidy TreatmentBEHAVIORAL

Participants will be awarded $50 for reaching the PBF goal at the end of 12 weeks. Regardless of goal-attainment, participants will be reimbursed 50% of approved health-improving expenses up to a cap of $300 in the 12 weeks. The subsidy is voluntary and flexible, with no direct intervention from researchers - participants will submit receipts and simply be reimbursed at the end of the experiment (subject to approval from the research team).

Subsidy Arm
Cash TreatmentBEHAVIORAL

Participants will be awarded $350 for reaching the PBF goal at the end of 12 weeks.

Cash Arm

Eligibility Criteria

Age25 Years - 60 Years
Sexfemale(Gender-based eligibility)
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Singaporeans or Permanent Residents
  • Female
  • Overweight (BMI: 23 to 27.5)
  • Participants need to own a smartphone or tablet
  • Must be able to commit to a 24-week research program focused on improving health
  • Own a smartphone or tablet

You may not qualify if:

  • Chronically diseased (e.g. hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia), or is suffering or suffered from medical conditions (e.g. stroke, heart attack).
  • Currently pregnant or breastfeeding or intending to become pregnant over the next year
  • Currently participating in any other research program focused on physical activity or weight loss
  • Currently taking any prescribed medications.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

National University of Singapore

Singapore, Singapore

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Chaston TB, Dixon JB, O'Brien PE. Changes in fat-free mass during significant weight loss: a systematic review. Int J Obes (Lond). 2007 May;31(5):743-50. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803483. Epub 2006 Oct 31.

    PMID: 17075583BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Overweight

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

OvernutritionNutrition DisordersNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesBody WeightSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

  • Noah Lim, PhD

    The Global Asia Institute, The National University of Singapore

    STUDY DIRECTOR

  • Andrea Chung, PhD

    Booz Allen Hamilton

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

  • Ta-Cheng Huang, PhD

    The Global Asia Institute, The National University of Singapore

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

  • Kegon Tan, PhD

    University of Rochester

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Ta-Cheng Huang, PhD

CONTACT

+6566012086tchuang@nus.edu.sg

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 21, 2021

First Posted

July 8, 2021

Study Start

August 23, 2021

Primary Completion

December 31, 2022

Study Completion

December 31, 2022

Last Updated

April 29, 2022

Record last verified: 2022-04

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations

SG(1)