"HOW," NOT "WHY"

When talking with people, do you often espouse the many benefits of adopting healthy habits? This may not be the best way of inspiring behavior change, according to a recent study summarizing best-practice interventions for increasing physical activity among healthy adults. According to the data, face-to-face, individually targeted programs that focused on how to improve activity levels were more successful than cognitive interventions focused on why exercise is important. Other less successful programs were community-based, using communication methods such as mail or telephone.

"The focus needs to shift from increasing knowledge about the benefits of exercise to discussing strategies to change behaviors and increase activity levels," stated lead study author Professor Vicki Conn of the University of Missouri School of Nursing. "The common approach is to try and change people's attitudes or beliefs about exercise and why it's important, but that information isn't motivating. We can't 'think' ourselves in to being more active."
Source: American Journal of Public Health



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