Testing an Insurance Incentive Program for Exercise
Empirical testing of a widely available insurance-based monetary incentive program for exercise: A randomized trial
This project looks at whether insurance company rewards help people exercise more, especially those at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127676 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people don't get enough physical activity, which is important for preventing conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. This project is testing if a $200 rebate from insurance companies for regular gym visits can encourage adults to exercise more consistently. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive this incentive or not, and their physical activity will be tracked using gym attendance data. The goal is to understand if these financial rewards effectively motivate people to meet exercise guidelines.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 and older who are interested in increasing their physical activity and may be at risk for conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or certain cancers.
Not a fit: Patients who are already highly active or those not covered by participating insurance plans may not directly benefit from this specific incentive program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could offer a proven way for insurance companies to help more people become physically active, potentially reducing their risk of serious health conditions.
How similar studies have performed: While economic incentives have generally shown promise in motivating behavior change, this specific insurance-based rebate program's effectiveness for increasing physical activity has not yet been empirically tested.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Brown University — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, David M — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Williams, David M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.