In changing behavior with regard to nutrition and healthy active lifestyles, approaches used to control alcoholism and drug addiction have been adapted to lifestyle change. This is justified by observations that the same reward center in the brain that is activated in drug addiction and alcoholism can be activated by images of favorite foods that are craved.  This method is called relapse prevention.

A lapse is a simple mistake that we all make when adhering to a new plan. A series of such mistakes is called a relapse and a series of relapses is called collapse. To prevent relapses, use the ABC’s of antecedents (what happens before), the behavior, and the consequence of the behavior to design approaches for the next time the antecedent occurs such as an urge to do the behavior being limited such as overeating a snack food.

Categories: Nutrition