Behavior Change

Jacob Hohenshelt, Eat Smart Idaho

 Activity

• Why did you eat what you ate for breakfast this
morning or why did you not eat breakfast this
morning?
• Jot down or contemplate then we will discuss
 Behavior

• The way a person acts in a particular situation or

condition
• Food choices & other food and nutrition related
actions that people undertake to achieve an
intended effect of their own choosing
• What influences a person’s behavior?
 Behavior Change
• The goal is long-term consistency
• Individuals/clients voluntarily and continuously adopt food
choices & other food/nutrition behaviors conducive to health
and wellbeing
• Gradual process with different stages
• Long-term change occurs as people gain knowledge & skills;
and increase self-confidence through trials & reinforcement
Models & Theories of Dietary Behavior Change

• Trans-Theoretical • Health Belief Model

Model • Self-Determination
• Knowledge-Attitude- Theory
Behavior Model • Social Cognitive
• Social Psychological Theory
Theories of Health
Behavior and
 Trans-
theoretical
Model
 Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior Model
• Proposes that as people acquire knowledge in the
nutrition area, their attitudes change, resulting in gradual
changes in behavior.
• Accumulation of knowledge is the motivator for change!

(Contento, 2011)
Social Psychological Theories of Health Behavior
and Behavioral Change
• Emphasis on 3 things
• Power of the situation
• Power of the person
• Power of cognition
• Concerned with understanding how thoughts, feelings, and values
affect nutrition choices and behaviors; and with how the
interactions with others and the social environment influence
behavior.
Socioecological
Model of
Behavior

• Utilizes System
Thinking – how things
influences one another
within the whole
•Nutrition Education at
each level
 Health Belief Model
• People will likely take action when they experience a personal threat
about a health condition; and if the benefits of taking action outweigh the
barriers
• Readiness to change a specific health behavior is dependent on:
• Perceived susceptibility to the problem
• Perceived severity of the problem
• Perceived benefits of change
• Perceived barrier to change
• Cues to action/self efficacy
Self-Determination Theory

• Individuals have innate needs – autonomy,

competence, & relatedness
• When needs are satisfied, a person’s autonomous
motivation and well-being are enhanced
• If not satisfied, people will not function optimally
or in a healthful way
 Social
Cognitive
Theory
Setting S.M.A.R.T.
Goals
• Example: I will eat a breakfast containing a
fruit or vegetable, whole grain, and protein
source at least 4 days over this next week.
 Why is this important?
• As nutrition professionals the most frustrating part of
our job can be trying to change a person’s behavior
• Education is useless if they don’t apply it to their
everyday behaviors
• Connects education and intentions to everyday
actions and behavior
 How to Succeed in Changing Behavior
• Listening, understanding, & negotiating with individuals to try a new
behavior
• Do they understand why they need to change? Motivate & Educate
• Do not preach!
• Simply telling them to do something different is not successful or
conducive to long-term behavior change.
• Set SMART goals to measure behavior change and promote
accountability
 Thank You!

•Questions/comments?