State of the Art Reviews: Changing and Adhering to Lifestyle Changes: What Are the Keys?

Given the relationship between lifestyle and health, researchers have examined those factors that predict healthy lifestyle changes. Several key variables have emerged from the literature, and these variables predict positive lifestyle changes across multiple health domains. More specifically, past health behavior, demographics, personality traits, social support, family functioning, ongoing contact with health care providers, and an individual's social ecology or network predict lifestyle change and adherence to lifestyle interventions. These variables are significant predictors of dietary and exercise regimen adherence, smoking cessation, decreased alcohol consumption, and adherence to medical treatment regimens. In addition, the use of behavioral, multicomponent, culturally specific interventions has proven to yield positive lifestyle changes across multiple health domains. For reasons of brevity, this review focuses on predictors of positive lifestyle change within the realms of diet and physical activity.