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Published on: March 7, 2019
Effectiveness of an incentive-based online physical activity intervention on employee health status
Christopher W Herman1, Shirley Musich, Chifung Lu
1University of Michigan Health Management Research Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1688, USA. hermanch@umich.edu
Objective:
The objective of this study was to test whether a financial incentive integrated with health benefits for an online physical activity program was associated with increased employee participation and improved health status among participants compared with nonparticipants.
Methods:
Participation in the Virtual Fitness Center (VFC), an online physical activity program associated with a 150 dollars cash rebate, was assessed. Risk status for 2004 VFC participants and nonparticipants was compared using a health risk appraisal.
Results:
A total of 53.8% of total eligible employees were VFC participants and reduced their risk for physical inactivity (8.4% points), life dissatisfaction (2.1), low perception of health (1.9), high risk status (1.3), smoking (0.4), and high body weight (0.2).
Conclusions:
Providing a cash incentive is one strategy for encouraging VFC participation and eliciting improved health status in an employer-sponsored, web-based physical activity program.
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