Contingency Management to Promote Weight Loss in Low Income Adults

This study is designed to evaluate the feasibility and provide preliminary evidence for efficacy of a 12-week contingency management intervention to promote weight loss in overweight and obese low income adults in a community-based clinic. The study has three primary goals: (a) to determine if the contingency management treatment can be effectively applied to a new application, weight loss; (b) to obtain preliminary evidence for contingency management's efficacy in promoting weight loss and improving treatment retention, diet quality, physical activity levels, and self efficacy; and (c) to identify barriers and challenges to implementing contingency management for weight loss among low income patients.

Participants assigned to Group A will receive the DPP manual (Wing & Gillis, 1996), a behavioral weight-loss program with demonstrated efficacy in facilitating weight loss. Participants in Group A will be instructed to read a section of the manual each week and complete suggested activities. They will also meet with the research staff once a week for weigh-in and supportive counseling.

Participants assigned to Group B will receive the DPP manual and will meet with research staff each week for weigh-in and supportive counseling. They will also receive contingency management or the opportunity to earn draws with the chance of winning prizes for losing weight and completing healthy activities.

Inclusion Criteria: age between 18 and 55 years body mass index in kg/m2 (BMI) between 25 and 39.9 resting blood pressure between 90/60 and 140/90 ability to speak English and read at the 6th grade level willingness to be randomly assigned to one of two groups Exclusion Criteria: any serious acute or chronic medical problems that may impact dietary or exercise regimens psychiatric conditions