Lifestyle Advice after a Health Check: Focusing on Changing Eating Behavior

Abstract

 Eating behavior is more difficult to change than other health related behaviors. This article introduces how to promote changes in eating behavior after a health check, based on the characteristics of eating behavior.

 First, their eating lifestyle from the behavioral perspective should be examined. Two ideas, which promote positive eating behavior, include food and behavioral perspectives. They are both needed for promoting behavioral change; if only food perspective is addressed, the client may use the common complaint "I know but I can't". Habitual eating behavior is part of a behavioral chain. If you imagine the client's behavior as part of a larger behavioral chain, you may understand how to cut the chain and can advise better on how to achieve their goals.

 Second, information that would increase the client's confidence should be provided. Readiness to change behavior is explained by the constructs of "importance" and "confidence". A person who has high levels of "importance" but low "confidence", may return to "I know but I can't" behavior. It is more important to raise "confidence" among these clients. It could be useful to implement strategies that would prevent people from giving into their "temptations," which are situations where they cannot act according to their target behaviors.

 Lastly, when giving advice related to food, it is better to give dish or meal information rather than nutritional or food information. There are five kinds of food information: nutrition, food, dish, meal, and behavior. It is often difficult to evaluate how much people act on food and nutritional advice.

 The time after a health check is limited; therefore, it could be valuable to utilize a standard questionnaire and listen to the clients about their behavior and give them appropriate information, which they feel they can act upon.