Table 3 (abstract A86). The six phases of change adapted to prevention/treatment of childhood overweight / obesity: thoughts and actions adequate to the family’s stage of motivation. Modified from Prochaska, Di Clemente [8]
Phase | Patient and family position | Patient and family actions | Therapists actions |
|---|---|---|---|
Pre-contemplation | They don’t think or accept there is a problem. | They are not interested in moving more and eating better in the following 6 months. | Provide information that increases awareness without judging or blaming. |
Contemplation | Ambivalence towards change. | They have not decided whether to move more and eat better in the following 6 months. | Ask the pros and cons and reinforce the reasons for change. |
Determination | They have decided and are making an action plan. | They are planning to move more and eat better in the following 30 days. | Help them find acceptable, easy and effective strategies. |
Action | They are implementing the treatment plan. | They have recently started moving more and eating better (< 6 months). | Help them monitor change, evaluate efficacy of strategies, support themselves, and face their barriers. |
Maintenance | They have already realized their plan for some time. | They have become more active and they eat better (> 6 months). | Help them monitor change, evaluate efficacy of strategies, support themselves, and face their barriers. |
Relapse | They are no longer interested in the treatment plan. | They abandoned the plan and resumed previous behaviors | Support them in reducing demoralization, learning from mistakes and restarting the process of change. |