Changing Habits – How successful will you be?
Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of education to improve diet in family members of hospitalized cardiovascular disease patients. They used the stages of change questionnaire to determine participant’s readiness to reduce saturated fat intake.
Participants were divided into 2 groups. One group was the control (received no education) and one group received special intervention with diet education tailored to each individuals starting “stage of change”.
At the start of the study, cholesterol and saturated fat intake was lowest for participants in the maintenance phase. After 1 year, participants in the special intervention group saw the greatest reductions in cholesterol and saturated fat intake. This group was also less likely to revert to a prior stage of change. For example, they were less likely to go from “action” back to “contemplation”.
Why am I sharing this study?
5 Stages of Change – Where do you fall?
If you are overweight or obese it’s necessary to make diet and lifestyle changes to lose weight and reduce your health risks. However, this means changing your habits.
If you typically grab fast food for lunch are you willing to switch and start packing a well balanced lunch instead?
If you include very little physical activity in your daily routine are you willing to shift your priorities to fit in physical activity?
Just how great is your desire to lose weight? Is it enough to change your habits?
