Contingency Management to Promote Weight Loss in Low Income Adults

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.

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