title: Improving compliance to meal-replacement food regimens. Forming implementation intentions (conscious IF-THEN plans) increases compliance.
abstract: Creating and changing habits around dieting behaviour can be a way to help consumers to consume more healthy products and to control their weight. Previous studies suggested that implementation intentions - deliberate plans on when, where and how - increase the likelihood that consumers perform the intended behaviour (Armitage, 2004; Gollwitzer & Sheeran, 2006; Jackson et al., 2005). This study investigated the effect of forming implementation intentions on compliance to a regimen based on a range of meal-replacement food products and snacks. Participants (n = 57) were allocated to one of two groups, either: (1) an implementation-intention group, who formed deliberate plans (implementation intentions) to consume the products - these implementation intentions were formed only once at the beginning of the study -, or (2) a control group who formed no implementation intentions. Participants were then instructed to follow a daily regimen, which included the consumption of foods from a range of meal-replacement products and snacks provided gratis for four weeks. Results showed that the implementation-intention group consumed significantly more meal-replacement food products per week (p < 0.05) and decreased their BMI score more than did the control group (p < 0.05). The effect of forming the implementation intentions was apparent for 18 days. These findings indicate that forming implementation intentions may assist individuals in their compliance to a meal-replacement product regimen.
authors.affiliation: Sensation, Perception & Behaviour, AC Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. liesbeth.zandstra@unilever.com
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Zandstra
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: den Hoed
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Maas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015431:Weight Loss