Program Helps Women Keep 2011 Resolutions
ATLANTA -- As part of its Choose You Movement, the American Cancer Society is launching 'New Year, Choose You!' -- an initiative on ChooseYou.com that helps women transform their health-related New Year's resolutions into long-term behavior change that can have a powerful impact on cancer prevention.
'New Year, Choose You!' is part of the Choose You Movement which was created to draw national attention to the fact that one in three women will get cancer in her lifetime, yet about half of all cancer deaths could be prevented if women maintained a healthy weight through diet and regular exercise, avoided tobacco products and got recommended cancer screening tests. Through the 'New Year, Choose You!' initiative, the Society wants to help women stay on track and meet their health goals throughout the year. "Despite the best intentions, we know that most women are not successful in achieving their New Year's resolutions. 'New Year, Choose You!' wants to help women stick to their health goals year round," said Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society. "By providing women with the necessary support system, incentives and online tools, Choose You helps women develop long-term healthy behavior changes in order to achieve success and reduce their cancer risk." Making New Year's Resolutions Stick Past surveys indicate that anywhere from 80 to 92 percent* of New Year's resolutions will fail. This January, through the Choose You Movement, the American Cancer Society wants to help women transform their health-related resolutions into long-term behavior change to help them stay well and help reduce their risk for cancer. 'New Year, Choose You!' invites women to visit ChooseYou.com to share their health-related New Year's resolutions and create a community of support and encourage loved ones to participate. Participants in the 'New Year, Choose You!' initiative are encouraged to take their healthy resolution to the next level by making a Choose You Commitment, an online pledge to reach a specific, individual health goal, in order to stick to their resolutions and ultimately achieve long-term behavior change. At ChooseYou.com, women can choose from different health categories, including: Eat Right; Get Active; Get Recommended Health Screenings; Protect Your Skin; and Quit Smoking. As part of the Choose You Commitment process, participants also have the option to make a monetary pledge and ask friends and family for support in order to incentivize them to stay on track. Extensive academic research conducted by Yale economists on these types of "commitment contracts" has shown that combining incentives and accountability can make you up to three times more likely to achieve your goal. At ChooseYou.com, women can access a variety of valuable tools and resources to support overall personal health goals, including: a calorie calculator, virtual dietitian, nutrition and activity quiz, smoking cost calculator, prevention and early detection videos and a desktop helper with daily health tips. The site also provides great articles on healthy habits, meals and exercising, among other available resources.
