Evaluation of an incentive-based obesity management program in a workplace.

This study is to analyze the effectiveness of an incentive-based obesity management program (the Midas Project aimed to improve good health habits) at an electronics company in 2005. A total of 95 company participants with a high body mass index (BMI) were recruited for a health promotion program for 3 months that awarded gold medals as an incentive for body fat loss. BMI decreased from 28.8 to 27.8 kg/m² (p = .000), body weight decreased from 87.2 to 83.5 kg (p = .000), and body fat weight decreased from 25.4 to 23.3 kg (p = .000). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased from 130.5 to 125.1 mmHg (p = .002), from 86.4 to 81.7 mmHg (p = .009). The percentage of participants exercising more than 3 times per week increased from 27.3 to 52.3% (p = .000). The percentage who avoided overeating at parties and midnight eating increased from 65.9 to 72.7% (p = .767) and 70.5 to 84.1% (p = .172), respectively. This incentive-based obesity management program was effective in improving not only BMI but also health status.