The Art & Science of Health Behavior Change [Podcast Series]

Dr. Jessica Matthews is Associate Professor and Program Director at Point Loma Nazarene University and Director of Health & Wellness Coaching at UC San Diego Health.
Dr. Matthews is also on the Board of Directors of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

“So it's not a lack of knowledge, per se, right? It's not that people don't know that exercise is good for your health. It's not that people don't know that eating more healthful, nutritious, wholesome food is good for your health. But the thing I was realizing is, but why don't people change? And they really invited me to reflect on my own educational journey and training, to be quite honest to say, You know what, in all of the training I've had, thus far, which was quite a bit, to be honest, I really never learned about the science of health behavior change. And really then the applicable skill set by which we effectively work with patients or clients, whatever setting we might be in, to empower them to actually enact and sustain those health behavior changes.”

“I had the ability and the pleasure to lead that project to say, let's really ensure that health coaches have the knowledge. They understand the models and the theories of health behavior change. They understand all of these various facets, physical activity clearly being such an important piece. I'm preaching to the choir saying that. But to also recognize there's other pillars, if you will, right, of lifestyle behavior change that are also important.”

“The key piece that I really see as being a core ingredient, in fact, I would say it's the base ingredient of the secret sauce, is the coaching skill set. It's the way in which we communicate, again, informed by science. So it's not just a feel good kind of thing. It actually is a systematic, intentional, and evidence informed way in which we engage with the patients or the clients or the participants that we serve in whatever role we're serving in.”

“That shift when you really embody it, and you bring it to the way in which you meet and see the people you serve, it will transform the way in which you then devise a plan forward together, those action steps, the programs, the intentional changes that people make when you see them as an equal partner. And in fact, they're kind of the captain of the ship and you're the co-captain, and that feels weird to some professionals. But it will lead to sustainable change.”

“Because again, lived experience, I tended to arrive with the expert hat on. I have all the answers. I'm going to help you. And it's well intentioned, but it's not actually what the science says will actually support the engagement in and sustainment of healthful behavior change, in this case, physical activity. But, like you said, extrapolated to any other health behavior, or really any other facet of your life.”

“I think the pillar that's come up pretty loud and clear consistently is this aspect of stress management or stress mitigation, resiliency, lots of different ways we can approach it. But what we're really getting at the heart of it is people are overwhelmed. They're overwhelmed with just I mean, they're overwhelmed with information. So that's a beautiful segue back to like, we don't just keep hitting people over the head with more knowledge.”

“So those have been pieces that have been important, really having the trust because that's what you need in a team, right? We need the trust that each member of the team has the right level of training, experience, education, and expertise, if you will, to be able to best serve patients. That's what makes physicians comfortable.”

Joining Forces to Promote Healthy, Active Lifestyles - President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition [Podcast Series]