Online Behavior Change Program

Online Behavior Change Program

Introduction

People involved in all walks of life experience some behavior problems. The awareness of behavior problems has been recently highlighted and such issues are being highlighted at workplace and home. The identification of behavior problems has created an urge in the people to seek help to change their behaviors. This has been facilitated by online websites which provide numerous programs; guidance and advice on improve one's behavior. These behavior improvement programs are aimed at helping people in improving their diet control, alcohol consumption, advising strategies to reduce and quit smoking. We will be looking at one website, www.myfitnesspal.com to evaluate their effectiveness in changing behavior of the users. We will also review some applications which these companies provide to its users. We will also analyze the opinion about these online websites and its effectiveness in changing behavior.

Analysis

The website's home page prominently shows testimonial statements of different users who claim to have reduced their weight using the remarkable programs available on the website (Myfitnesspal.com, 2012). While the websites refers to different researches of scholars as bases of its services, it fails provide any accreditation or authentic research study which can prove its claims.

The applications offered by the company are mostly focused on keeping track of food intake as it was attributed to be the cause of increase in weight. The company bases most of its programs on advising customers regarding the food intake and recommending foods which can help them in living a healthy life.

I found the use of application a tiresome activity at start but then when I started logging my food intake it became easy. I entered all the exercises I did and the big directory had most of the foods I took in the day. The mobile app turned out to be an eye opener. I became aware of the calories I take in and of the ones which are left unburned despite my workout. I helped develop in developing a sense of self audit which I never had. Daily entry of food intakes allowed me ascertains how many calories I have taken in a day and week. My daily workout entry in the app provided the feedback on my work routine. As I reviewed my weekly performance against my established goals, it became evident that I will not be achieving my monthly target of weight reduction. I sought help on ...