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Not everyone who is asked about weight management will be ready to start making changes. People will be at different stages in their willingness to learn about and implement weight control strategies. The Transtheoretical Model of Change is a model of behavior change that was popularized by Prochaska and DiClemente in the 1980s (Prochaska and DiClemente, 1982). This model offers a framework for assessing whether someone is ready to make a change in their behavior and identifies the stages of change that people pass through as they consider and then work to implement behavior change, such as the lifestyle changes in dietary patterns and physical activity that are recommended as a component of weight management.
People can move forward and backward through these stages of change and remain susceptible to relapse even after long periods of maintenance. A wide range of communication strategies can be used to help people progress through the stages of change and support them if they move backward.
Recognize Obesity as a Disease in Need of Treatment | Assess for the Presence of Bias and Work to Address It | Seek Resources and Continuing Education | The 6 As Approach to Weight Management | Become Familiar with Principles of Readiness to Change | Consider Motivational Interviewing Strategies | Identify Opportunities for Reimbursement | Practice Management References