Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Healthier People Make New Year's Resolutions


With the start of a new year just days away, it seemed a fitting time to launch a new blog devoted to reviewing the latest findings in diet, nutrition and exercise. 

Losing weight and exercising more are the two most commonly cited New Year's resolutions. And a new study by two Kansas State University researchers suggests that those who do make New Year's resolutions tend to have more healthy behaviors than those who scoff at setting long-term goals for themselves.

According to a December 24, 2009 Science Daily story, a survey of college students revealed that those who chose a larger, future reward over a smaller, but more immediate payoff were more likely to possess healthier behaviors such as drinking in moderation, watching what they ate or wearing sunscreen.

The study's findings, which are published in the January 2010 issue of Personality and Individual Differences, were based on social psychology questions (e.g., "Would you prefer $35 today or $45 in 35 days?") that were used to determine whether survey-takers were future-minded or present-minded. Once that was established, the researchers were able to more accurately predict health behaviors.

So even if, like many of those making New Year's resolutions, your resolution falls by the wayside come February, don't give up. According to the research, even the act of making those resolutions is in itself an indicator that you'll wind up taking better care of your health.

What's your New Year's resolution?