Financial Incentive-Based Approaches for Weight Loss

New strategies are neededtohelpreducetherateofobesityintheUS population.Although many variables contrib-ute to the increase in obesity preva-lence in the United States, behavioraleconomics has identified several pat-terns of behavior that help to explainwhy people engage in self-destructivebehavior,includingthetendencytoputdisproportionate emphasis on imme-diate gratification, such as the plea-sure of eating, relative to the muchsmaller emphasis put on delayed ben-efits, such as enjoying good health.

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