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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Adult, Attitude, Body Mass Index, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Counseling, Exercise, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Nutrition Therapy, Obesity, Overweight, Token Economy, Weight Loss.
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Does a low-cost reinforcement procedure improve short-term weight loss outcomes? Context: Reinforcement-based treatments, based on behavioral economics models, can improve outcomes of medical conditions with behavioral components. This study evaluated the efficacy of a low-cost reinforcement intervention to produce initial weight loss. Overweight individuals (n=56) were randomized to one of two 12-week treatments: Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitudes, Relationships, Nutrition manual with supportive counseling or that same treatment with opportunities to win $1 to $100 prizes for losing weight and completing weight-loss activities. Patients receiving reinforcement lost significantly more weight (6.0% ± 4.9% baseline bodyweight) than patients in the non-reinforcement condition (3.5% ± 4.1%; P=.04). Moreover, 64.3% of patients receiving reinforcement achieved weight loss of ≥ 5% baseline bodyweight versus 25.0% of those in the non-reinforcement condition (P=.003). Proportional weight loss was significantly related to reductions in total cholesterol and 24-hour ambulatory heart rate.
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This reinforcement-based intervention substantially enhances short-term weight loss, and reductions in weight are associated with important changes in clinical biomarkers. Larger-scale evaluation of reinforcement-based treatments for weight loss is warranted. Final Decision: yes