"Financial Incentives and Gamification Drive Increased Physical Activity"

A study published in Circulation found that providing incentives, including cash rewards and game-oriented challenges, led to participants increasing their daily step counts by 1,500 steps and adding 40 minutes of moderate exercise per week. The research involved 1,062 participants with a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, and those in the incentive groups showed sustained physical activity improvements even six months after the study ended. The study suggests that using wearable devices, exercise apps, and social support to create game or financial incentives could be effective in promoting physical activity and reducing cardiovascular risk.