Proven Steps to Diet Adherence

Shubha Lakshmi Bhat

May 13, 2010

habits.stanford.edu

Expert Focus

Target: Patients who are insulin resistant/pre-diabetic from Palo Alto who self select to enroll in a 12-week weight-loss clinical trial at Stanford Hospital

Task: Adhere to the research diet of caloric restriction and macronutrient distribution of 15% protein, 40% carbohydrate, 45% unsaturated fat

Habits that matter

New Habit

Only go to restaurants that publish their calorie content

Step 1 to New Habit

• Decide to eat out only if restaurant meets your criteria

Blue Behavior

Step 2 to New Habit

• Decide on criteria:– Food type (Indian, American, etc) – Location– Price

Blue Behavior

Step 3 to New Habit

• Search for restaurants that meet criteria– Word of mouth– Google– Yelp– Open Table

Blue Span

Step 4 to New Habit

• Find out if menu with caloric content is available– Call– Search website

Green Span

Step 5 to New Habit

• Present restaurant options to friends– Email– In person– Phone– Google Poll

Blue Behavior

Step 6 to New Habit

• Decide on restaurant

Blue Behavior

Result of inserting GreenSpan to a Blue Behavior

• More likely to…– view menu with caloric content– discuss options with friends/family– decide order based on caloric content

Blue Behavior= Choosing a restaurant

Green Span= asking if restaurant publishes caloric content