Apparently if folks don’t want to lose weight, a modest financial incentive will not motivate them to do so.

That’s the implication of a study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.

The research team designed a study that placed about 200 obese university employees in four groups (one a control group) and offered various types of financial incentives if group members lost 5 percent of their weight in a year.

Nobody claimed the $550 incentive because no one got close to the 5 percent weight loss.

Read: Employees opting out of workplace wellness

In fact, on average they lost less than 1.5 pounds.

Members of the control group lost a tenth of a pound with no incentive offered.

Study leader Dr. Mitesh Patel said the study uncovered a basic flaw of many workplace wellness plans designed to encourage weight loss: Money doesn't work, at least not at the $550 level.

One aspect of the incentive structure that mirrors company plans was the way the money was to be awarded.

Read: What to consider before implementing a workplace wellness program

One group was told they’d be paid via reduced health insurance premiums as soon as they met the goal. A second was told they’d enjoy the discount in the year following the study’s conclusion. Members of the third were to be entered into a daily lottery the day after meeting their goal.

Patel said that when an incentive is based upon a specific goal rather than steps toward the goal, it may be less effective.

“Someone should be encouraged along the way,” he said. “We’ve found from studies that if you want to motivate people they need regular feedback.”

Instant Insights /

Would you lose weight if your employer offered you $550?

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