
A 12-month incentive
based weight loss study
aimed to reduce weight
and improve overall health
of Singaporeans.

Conducted by Duke-NUS
Graduate Medical School
and the LIFE Centre at SGH
to improve the 4-month
Obesity Management
program (OBM) at LIFE.

Funded by NIHA (NUS
Global Asia Institute).
Obesity is a critical public health problem in Asia.
Prevalence of Overweight (BMI > 25) in Asia
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Singapore
S. Korea
Malaysia
Thailand
Philippines
Indonesia
Males


Females
Vietnam
Among Asians, BMI > 23 increases disease risk
Based on a BMI of 30, obesity rates in Singapore increased from 5% in 1992, to
7% in 2004, to roughly 11% in 2010
Source: WHO Global NCD Info Database https://apps.who.int/infobase/CountryProfiles.aspx
(Data: Indonesia 2001; Vietnam 2002; Philippines 2003; Thailand, Singapore 2004; Malaysia 2006; S. Korea 2007)
Obesity leads to
several serious health
problems such as
heart disease and
stroke, diabetes,
osteoarthritis etc.
Activity Goals
Monthly Weight Loss Target: Lose 1kg or more or
BMI<23.5
Step Target per Month: 10,000 steps on
pedometer on at least 20 days.
(1st month: target 8000 steps for at least 20 days)
Significant Weight Loss Target: Weight loss of 5%
and 8% of baseline weight or if BMI<23.5
Guarantee
d
Payments
Lottery
Payments
(1 in 10
chance)
$20
$200
$20
$200
Month 4:
$100
Month 4:
$1000
Month 8:
$200
Month 8:
$2000

1 individual consultation with a
physician

2 individual sessions with a
clinical coordinator

2 individual and 3 group sessions
with dieticians

1 supermarket visit with a
dietician

1 fitness assessment

4 supervised gym sessions
Hours: Mondays to Fridays
8:30am-5:30pm
Baseline
CONTROL
(NO INCENTIVE)
GUARANTEED
PAYMENT
4 mo.
12 mo.
4 mo. PROGRAM
No Incentives
No Incentives
No Incentives
TRADITIONAL INCENTIVES
($20/month)
No Incentives
BEHAVIORAL INCENTIVES
($200/month)
No Incentives
4 mo. PROGRAM
TRADITIONAL INCENTIVES
($20/month)
LOTTERY
PAYMENT
(1 in 10
chance)
8 mo.
4 mo. PROGRAM
BEHAVIORAL INCENTIVES
($200/month)
YOU CANNOT CHOOSE WHICH STUDY GROUP TO JOIN AND
CANNOT SWITCH GROUPS.
YOU’LL BE RANDOMALLY ALLOCATED TO ONE OF THE TWO
GROUPS AFTER YOUR STUDY STATUS IS CONFIRMED
•A Pedometer: It is a step
counter that records and
displays the number of step
you take per day
•Best worn on the hip above
the thigh.
Can be used with clip
included; clip can be
attached to clothing or to a
belt
•Automatically resets to zero
at midnight every night
Pressing MEMO button will
show step activity over past
7 days

Pass an health assessment screening.

Pay $234 in cash or check payable to ‘Duke-NUS
Graduate Medical School’ to enroll in the OBM
program (50% off standard rate).

Pay $165 in cash to the study team to enroll in the
incentive programme. This amount will be refunded to
participants allocated to the control arm.

Participants must attend follow up sessions at 4, 8 and
12 months. $20 will be paid for attendance. There is
also a lottery to win an Apple ipod at each session.
Ask the study team
any questions
 Sign the consent form
 Pay the enrollment fee
 Complete a
questionnaire
 Sign the OBM
indemnity form
 Make your first
appointment for the
OBM program
