While commercial weight loss programs are abundant, obesity rates in the U.S. remain high, justifying the need for a different approach. It appears as though we have the tools to manage the country’s obesity epidemic and implementation is crucial. Perhaps these tools are best in the hands of behavior analysts instead of physicians. Behavior analytic treatments that target obesity will help practitioners (not necessarily physicians) to foster not only the relationship between practitioner knowledge and practice but might also help facilitate the use of behavior analytic treatments for other issues within the medical field. Effective management of obesity requires a functioning, collaborative interdisciplinary team, specifically noting behavior analysts as being a part of that team; the time is now to begin this necessary collaboration.
Behavior analysts apply behavior-analytic concepts and principles to improve personal health and fitness, primarily outside of the formal healthcare system, with a focus on health promotion through diet and exercise modification. Behavior analysts work directly with individuals, or in collaboration with healthcare professionals, registered dietitians, and personal trainers, to help individuals achieve meaningful behavior change, such as sustained adherence to dietary and physical activity regimens, to improve individualized health and wellness outcomes. Interventions in this area typically include task clarification, goal-setting, self-monitoring, accountability, feedback, self-talk regulation, stimulus control, behavioral skills training, and contingency management.
Behavioral analysis for weight loss. Basically, these are intensive programs that focus on lasting diet and lifestyle change.
About Our Guest:
Valerie Evans, PhD is a licensed and board-certified Behavior Analyst. She owns a continuing education business that reviews current research and best practices for behavior analyst programs.
Dr. Evans has aspired to feel better about her body since the onset of puberty and has experience with just about every diet program. Two years ago, Valerie turned to diet apps to feel like herself again following surgery. However, instead of reconnecting with her body, she felt more disconnected than ever... completely consumed with the diet app numbers game. It was then that she said, "no weigh" to the counting, tracking, budgeting, and overall life-consuming task of restriction diets.
Dr. Evans responded by creating her own app, a diet program alternative called No Weigh. No Weigh shows users how to leverage behavior analysis devices to make simple adjustments to the contexts of their daily lives to maintain motivation and lose weight naturally.
Resources Mentioned:
No Way App
Connect with Dr. Evans:
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Website
LinkedIn
The hash
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