Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Financial Incentives and Weight Loss in Failed Bariatric Surgery

This national study is investigating a new way to help people who have regained weight after bariatric (weight-loss) surgery. If you've had surgery like a gastric bypass or sleeve and then put some weight back on, this study wants to see if offering financial rewards can help you lose it again. Participants will be put into one of three groups: one gets standard care, another gets a financial reward if they hit a specific weight loss target, and the third gets a reward based on how much weight they lose towards their target. Researchers will also look at the costs and benefits to see if this approach could work for more people across the country.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris

Enrolment target

264

Start

01 Apr 2025

Estimated completion

01 Apr 2029

Obesity Obesity Recidivism

What is this study about?

This study is designed to help people who have had bariatric surgery – like gastric bands, sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric bypass – but have since regained some of the weight they lost. It's a common challenge, and this research is trying to find new ways to support patients in reaching their long-term weight goals.

The main idea behind this study is to see if giving people financial incentives (like money) can encourage them to lose weight and keep it off. Researchers call this 'contingency management' – it means a reward is given when a specific goal is achieved. You might be wondering why financial incentives? Well, sometimes a little extra motivation can make a big difference, and the study wants to find out if this approach is effective.

Participants will be placed into one of three groups by chance, like shuffling a deck of cards. One group will receive the usual care and advice for weight management. Another group will get the same care, plus a financial reward if they manage to reach a specific weight loss target. The third group will also get the same care, but their financial reward will depend on how much weight they lose, even if they don't hit the full target. The study will also work out if this approach would be good value for money if used more widely in the NHS.

Key takeaways

The study explores if financial rewards help with weight loss after bariatric surgery.
It aims to support people who have regained weight after their surgery.
Participants will be split into three groups to compare different approaches.
The study will last for 24 months with regular health checks.
It also looks at whether this approach is good value for money for the NHS.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you need to be an adult over 18 years old. You must have had one of several types of weight-loss surgery, such as a gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric bypass, and your surgery must have been at least two years ago.

Another important requirement is that you must have regained at least 10% of the most weight you lost after your surgery, and you must still be considered obese (meaning your Body Mass Index, or BMI, is 30 or higher) even after having had the surgery.

However, some people cannot participate. This includes women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant during the first year of the study. Also, if someone is under legal protection (for example, if they have a legal guardian), they won't be able to join the study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Have you had weight-loss surgery (gastric band, sleeve, bypass, SADI-sleeve)?
Was your surgery at least 2 years ago?
Have you regained 10% or more of the weight you initially lost?
Is your Body Mass Index (BMI) still 30 or higher?
Are you NOT pregnant or planning to get pregnant soon?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, your involvement will last for about 24 months (two years). During this time, you'll have some standard follow-up visits, which happen at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. These visits are similar to the ones you might already have after your weight-loss surgery.

At each visit, your weight will be checked, and you'll receive advice and support from your healthcare team, just like you would with usual care. If you are in one of the groups receiving financial incentives, whether you get a reward, and how much, will be decided at your 12-month visit, based on your weight loss at that point. No further financial incentives will be given after the 12-month visit until the study concludes at the 24-month mark.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer you the potential benefit of closer support and perhaps extra motivation through financial incentives to help you manage your weight after surgery. It also contributes to important research that could improve care for others in the future. As with any study, there's always a chance that the intervention might not work for everyone, and no guarantee of a specific outcome. There are no direct medical risks identified beyond the usual follow-up care. Remember, participation is always voluntary, and you have the right to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect your usual medical care.

Locations (12)

AP-HP - hôpital Avicenne
Verified postcode
Bobigny, France
AP-HP - hôpital Louis-Mourier
Verified postcode
Colombes, France
Centre hospitalier intercommunal de Créteil
Verified postcode
Créteil, France
AP-HM - hôpital de la Conception
Verified postcode
Marseille, France
CHU de Nantes - hôpital Laënnec
Verified postcode
Nantes, France
CHR d'Orléans - hôpital La Source
Verified postcode
Orléans, France
AP-HP - hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière
Verified postcode
Paris, France
AP-HP - hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou
Verified postcode
Paris, France
AP-HP - hôpital Bichat - Claude-Bernard
Verified postcode
Paris, France
CHU de Poitiers
Verified postcode
Poitiers, France
CHU de Reims - hôpital Robert-Debré
Verified postcode
Reims, France
CHU de Nancy - hôpital Brabois
Verified postcode
Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France

Common questions

What kind of financial incentive will I get?

You might receive a financial reward if you achieve a specific weight loss target, or a reward proportional to how much weight you lose towards that target, depending on which study group you are in.

How long will I be in the study?

Your involvement in the study will last for two years (24 months).

Will my regular doctors still look after me?

Yes, you will continue to receive the standard medical care and follow-up from your usual healthcare team during the study.

What happens if I don't lose weight?

The study is designed to understand what works. If you don't lose weight, you will still continue to receive standard care and support, and your decision to participate is valuable research for others, regardless of your personal outcome.

Is this study safe?

Yes, the study involves regular medical checks and follows established healthcare guidelines. The financial incentives generally carry no physical risk.

How to find out more

Coralie Villeret

coralie.villeret@aphp.fr +33 1 40 27 52 66 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.