Key points
- Health behavior change strategies help individuals incorporate physical activity into their daily routines.
- These strategies teach behavioral skills such as goal setting and problem-solving.
- See approaches you can take, examples of what others have done, and resources.
Overview
Health behavior change strategies help individuals incorporate physical activity into their daily routines by teaching behavioral skills, such as goal-setting and problem-solving. Individual behavior change strategies are tailored to a person’s interests and needs. Workplaces, health care, and fitness organizations can use these strategies.
Approaches
Peer and professional support
Professionals or trained peers can offer counseling and guidance to help people achieve an active lifestyle. This approach can be used with youth, adults, and older adults.
Technology
Technology can be used to provide physical activity coaching or guidance. Tailored messages can be delivered through text and telephone messaging, the Internet, or (when access to technology is limited) by mail. Individuals can also wear activity monitors that provide immediate feedback combined with goal-setting and coaching.
Resources
Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendations
Home-Based Exercise Interventions for Adults Aged 65 years and Older
Individually Adapted Health Behavior Change Program
Worksite Digital Health and Telephone Interventions to Increase Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
Peer or professional support
Exercise Professionals' Action Guide
Helps exercise professionals work with doctors and other health care providers to encourage prescribing physical activity as patient care.
Health Care Providers' Action Guide
How to best prescribe physical activity to help patients prevent, treat, and manage chronic health conditions.
Park Prescription Program Toolkit
Interactive, step-by-step guide to starting a Park Prescription program.
The Challenge of Reimbursement-Coding and Billing Tips
Lists of ICD-10 and CPT codes for health care professionals to use when assessing, prescribing, and counseling patients about physical activity.
Technology
14 Weeks to a Healthier You
Free, personalized, online physical activity and nutrition program for people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. The program can help address equitable and inclusive access to physical activity.
Want additional tips and resources to be active?
Learn about Active People, Healthy NationSM, CDC’s national initiative to help people be more physically active.