A Randomized Trial of Behaviorally Designed Gamification and Social Incentives to Increase Physical Activity Among Overweight and Obese Veterans

Running, not enrolling · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Hypertension, Obesity

In brief

Despite the many associated health benefits, more than half of Veterans do not achieve enough regular physical activity. The investigators' prior work has demonstrated that gamification, a method commonly used for health promotion, can lead to sustained increases in physical activity if it is designed using insights from behavioral economics to enhance social incentives. In this study, the investigators will compare the effectiveness of behaviorally designed gamification that encourages Veterans to collaborate or compete on physical activity levels and examine clinical outcomes as well as costs, barriers and facilitators to implementation of the program within Veterans Affairs.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05554601

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

725

Starts

2023-07-17

Expected to finish

2026-07-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-30

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Veterans receiving care at the CMCVAMC age 18 or older with a body mass index > 30
• a hypertension diagnosis with systolic blood pressure >140mm Hg
• are interested in participating in a 9-month physical activity program

You may not qualify if…

• currently participating in another physical activity research study
• any medical conditions prohibiting ambulation without assistance
• if a 9-month physical activity program is infeasible or unsafe
• if the Veteran is at a higher level of physical activity (i.e., baseline step count >7500 steps per day)

Where it is running

• Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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