Brownell K D, Cohen R Y, Stunkard A J, Felix M R, Cooley N B
Am J Public Health. 1984 Nov;74(11):1283-5. doi: 10.2105/ajph.74.11.1283.
Three weight loss competitions were held in business/industrial settings. One competition was between three banks; the other two were within industries, either between employee teams selected at random or between divisions of the industry. Attrition in the competitions was less than 1 per cent and weight loss averaged 5.5 kg. Both employees and management reported positive changes in morale and employee/management relations, and both considered the competition important to the success of the program. The cost-effectiveness ratio ($ 2.93 per 1 per cent reduction in percentage overweight) is the best yet reported.