Can timely reminders or prompts help you make better health choices? Have you ever made an unhealthy decision despite knowing it could potentially affect you? For instance, do you sometimes consume sugary drinks or binge despite the potentially harmful consequences. What can you do to stay motivated in making the right health decisions? A new study has revealed that sometimes all we need to make the right health decision is a prompt or timely reminder.

The study was recently published in the article titled ‘’And She’s Buying a Stairway to Health: Signs and Participant Factors Influencing Stair Ascent at a Public Airport’’ in Journal of primary prevention.

How was the research conducted?



For 10 non-consecutive days, a team led by SDSU public health researchers Yael BenPorat, Brent Bishop and Melbourne Hovell posted one of five signs at the bottom of a set of stairs and escalators ascending to a sky bridge into San Diego International Airport’s Terminal 1. The signs read:

-“Please reserve the escalator for those who need it.”

-“Don’t lose time, lose weight. Use the Stairs.”

-“Don’t waste Time, trim your Waistline. Use the Stairs.”

-“You’ll get more stares if you use the stairs.”

-“If you want to feel younger, act younger. Step it up! Use the stairs.”

On alternating days, they posted no signs at all. The researchers counted how many people took the stairs versus the escalator on the sign days and no-sign days. They also interviewed people atop the stairs about their health history and physical activity levels.

When one of the signs was present, about twice as many people took the stairs compared to a no-sign day, the researchers reported recently in the Journal of Primary Prevention. The most important finding: The prompts appeared to nudge both people who regularly exercised and those who never exercised, explained study coauthor Natasha Bliss, an alumna of the SDSU Graduate School of Public Health and current associate director of development for the university’s College of Professional studies and Fine Arts.

“We saw the effect even when people were carrying luggage, even when they were in a rush,” Bellettiere said. “It’s the first time this kind of effect has been shown at an airport.”

“These nudges are small environmental changes that can really help boost physical activity in the population,” Bellettiere said.

Why is this study relevant?

This study partly explains why some young people place their health at risk. The negative ‘prompts’ from peers, media and others may influence them to take risks such as speeding, binge drinking and drug use.The choices you make have a huge impact on your health. If what we see could improve those choices, making small changes in our environment may help you become more successful in leading healthier lives.



Source:http://www.healthx24.com/timely-reminders-better-health-choices/