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Sticky note on a fridge with a written reminder to take 250 steps

What's your health goal? Why people fail and how to succeed

Mar 8, 2023 - McMaster University - 57 minutes

Is there a health-related change you need or want to make? In this webinar recording, Dr. Diana Sherifali discusses how a ‘tiny habit’ approach can help people reach their health goals to manage or help to prevent chronic disease.

Learn the answers to the following questions:

0:00 How can health goals help prevent or manage chronic disease?
6:13 How can health coaches help?
11:05 What is a tiny habit?
16:45 Why do tiny habits work?
19:04 What role does motivation play?
20:45 How do you get started?
31:33 What should I look for in a health coach?
38:20 How can tiny habits be used for weight loss?
44:16 What do you do if you have memory problems?
47:05 What can I do if I struggle to keep my goals?

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Author Details

Diana Sherifali

Dr. Sherifali is an Associate Professor at McMaster University in the School of Nursing. Her research program aims to optimize the management of diabetes and quality of life for older adults and people with diabetes across their lifespan.

Author Details

Anthony Levinson

Dr. Anthony J. Levinson is a Professor at McMaster University and holds the John R. Evans Chair in Health Sciences Educational Research and Instructional Development. One of the co-leaders of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, Dr. Levinson is also a psychiatrist with a special interest in medical psychiatry and neuropsychiatry. His area of research interest includes online learning to improve healthcare provider and patient education.

References

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Flaherty-Robb M, Calarco M, Butterworth S, et al. Healthy Lifetime (HL): An internet-based behavioral health coaching protocol for older adults. Front Digit Health. 2022;4:795827. doi:10.3389/fdgth.2022.795827
Fogg BJ. Tiny Habits. Harvest; (2019)
Fritz H, Hu YL, Gahman K, Almacen C, Ottolini J. Intervention to modify habits: A scoping review. OTJR (Thorofare N J). 2020;40(2):99-112. doi:10.1177/1539449219876877
Fruh S, Williams S, Hayes K, et al. A practical approach to obesity prevention: Healthy home habits. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2021;33(11):1055-1065. doi:10.1097/JXX.0000000000000556
Hunt D, Lamb H, Elliot J, et al. A WHO key informant language survey of people with lived experiences of diabetes: Media misconceptions, values-based messaging, stigma, framings and communications considerations. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. 2022;193(1):1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2022.110109
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Pyatak EA, Carandang K, Rice Collins C, Carlson M. Optimizing occupations, habits, and routines for health and well-being with Lifestyle Redesign®: A synthesis and scoping review. Am J Occup Ther. 2022;76(5):7605205050. doi:10.5014/ajot.2022.049269
Robinson M, Smith JA. The lazy language of ‘lifestyles’. Health Prom J of Australia. 2022;34(1):3-5. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.677
Sherifali D, Brozic A, Agema P, et al. Effect of diabetes health coaching on glycemic control and quality of life in adults living with type 2 diabetes: A community-based, randomized, controlled trial. Can J Diabetes. 2021;45(7):594-600. doi:10.1016/j.jcjd.2020.11.012
Smith JA et al. Advancing health promotion in rural and remote Australia: Strategies for change. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. 2022;33(1):3-6. DOI: 10.1002/hpja.569
Watkins DA, Msemburi WT, Pickersgill SJ, et al. NCD countdown 2030: Efficient pathways and strategic investments to accelerate progress towards the sustainable development goal target 3.4 in low-income and middle-income countries. The Lancet Health Policy. 2022;399(10331):1266-1278. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02347-3

DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.

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