Obesity is the New Black
According to this recent Gallup study, every single one of these United States of America has over a 20% obesity rate. So, why can’t we shed pounds? Is it laziness? Is it a lack of self-control? Is Ronald McDonald up to his diabolical scheming again?
Actually, it’s none of the above. It’s a misunderstanding about human behavior. In particular, it’s a misunderstanding about how human behavior changes. In the land of self-determination, we’re famous for the notion that behavior change is a choice.
The belief that change is a choice is meant to be empowering, and can be exactly that from time-to-time. The problem is what that statement implies for those who are struggling to change. If change is a choice, and you aren’t able to change easily, it must mean that you just haven’t made the choice, or you just “don’t want it bad enough.” It implies that you lack self-discipline, willpower, and the courage to change.
That implication isn’t real comforting, is it? In fact, it’s so discomforting that it might just drive us to inhale some comfort food, or maybe a drink…or six. Know what I mean?
The truth is that losing weight, becoming more productive, kicking a bad habit, being less angry, being more organized, or successfully changing any kind of behavior is not simply a choice. It is a series of choices–hundreds of decisions that you make every day. And these decisions have little do with willpower, or the lack thereof.
Whether you’re trying to lose weight or change anything else about yourself, I highly recommend checking out these 10 slides from Stanford’s Persuasive Technology Lab. A lot of this stuff flies directly in the face of common wisdom.
Which mistake surprises you the most?
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