The Healthy Nudge

April 2024

Welcome to The Healthy Nudge. Each month, we'll get you up to speed on the latest developments in policy-relevant health behavioral economics research at CHIBE. See our 5 top stories below.

1) Incentives and gamification increased daily walking in patients at risk for heart disease

A paper by CHIBE members Alexander Fanaroff, MD, MHS; Mitesh Patel, MD, MBA, MS; Neel Chokshi, MD, MBA; Samantha Coratti, BA; David Farrady, BS; Laurie Norton, MA, MBE; Charles Rareshide, MA; Jingsan Zhu, MS, MBA; Tamar Klaiman, PhD, MPH; Julia Szymczak, PhD; Louise B. Russell, PhD; Dylan Small, PhD; and Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD

Gamification elements and financial incentives can help people at high risk for heart disease or stroke increase their daily walking and sustain the increase for a year, according to new research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session. This CHIBE study was featured on the Today Show, and was also covered by the Washington Post, Medscape, and Health Day, among other outlets. Find the press release here and the paper published in Circulation here.

2) Dr. Amol Navathe testifies before U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget and on Finance

Two CHIBE blog posts featuring CHIBE Associate Director Amol Navathe, MD, PhD

CHIBE Associate Director Amol Navathe, MD, PhD, recently testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance about improving chronic care through Medicare physician payment. He also testified last month before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget about achieving health efficiency through primary care.

3) The secret to a sustainable workout habit

A New York Times article featuring CHIBE Director Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD

While paying a monthly gym membership propels some people to work out, it’s not enough for others: Only half of gym members go twice a week.

“If you don’t follow through, there is no real penalty,” said Dr. Kevin Volpp, the director of the Penn Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, other than feeling like you’ve wasted money.

To create more accountability, he said, forge a relationship with an instructor or trainer and say you’ll show up for a class or workout session at a specific time. Social accountability — not wanting to seem like a flake — can be a powerful motivator. Read the full story here.

4) These countries are doing nutrition labels the right way

A Washington Post Opinion article by CHIBE Associate Director Christina Roberto, PhD, and colleagues

"The system of food labeling in the United States does not make it easy for consumers trying to assess the nutritional value of the foods they buy. Now, the Food and Drug Administration can do something about it.

More than 40 countries have adopted easy-to-understand, front-of-package nutrition information showing, at a glance, which foods are more — or less — healthful. Thus far, the United States has not required front-of-package labeling, relying instead on the food industry’s voluntary efforts, laden with confusing numbers and percentages. Compare that with the “excess sugar” stop signs you’ll see in Mexico, the Nutri-Score system used in France, or the Health Star Ratings in New Zealand.

Only recently did the idea of a mandated, government-sponsored label gain traction in the United States. Last year, the FDA announced it would undertake consumer research on the topic, with the intent to issue a proposed rule in June. That could mean a shift to the kind of intuitive labeling that signals immediately whether a product contains ingredients you would prefer to avoid." Read the full story here.

5) Missing a doctor's appointment may trigger a ‘no-show' fee of up to $100. Is that fair?

A CNBC story featuring CHIBE-affiliated faculty George Loewenstein, PhD

"I very strongly support such fees," said George Loewenstein, an economics and psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University. "Patients who don't show up are taking up appointments which other patients could use," said Dr. Loewenstein, adding that "without such a fee, patients have little if any disincentive for not bothering to cancel appointments well in advance." Read the full story here.