Ministry of Food – Passing on the Power of Behaviour Change
Ministry of Food – Passing on the Power of Behaviour Change Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food is an inspired initiative. It’s also great to see the power of celebrity being used in such a constructive way. It’s a very acceptable mixture of altruism and self-interest. More power to his arm!
What he has done is to show that there are a lot of people who want to change their eating and lifestyle habits. What they lack, and what he supplies, is information, inspiration and support. All are essential ingredients for successful behaviour change – and the Ministry of Food is essentially about changing people’s behaviour.
He has also uncovered the power of community. If you can harness the energy and enthusiasm of like-minded people within a community, you have a very strong driver for change. Although for lasting change, you need lasting support.
Jamie rightly highlights that too many of us are too fat. 60% of us are either overweight or obese, and it’s a problem that is getting worse, not better. Eating the right food, and learning to cook fresh, good, nutritious food is what people need to do. But this won’t cure the obesity crisis.
The problem with obesity is that it is socially contagious. To be either overweight or obese has become acceptable in society. It has become a new social norm. If you have a friend who is overweight or obese, you have 60% chance of being overweight or obese too. Overweight or obese people stick together. They feel comfortable in each other’s company, free from ridicule or criticism. This ‘social contagion’ is probably the main reason why obesity levels continue to rise.
What is the answer? Diets only deliver short-term weight loss. 95% of people who go on a diet never achieve permanent weight loss. The only real way to achieve permanent weight loss is to change your behaviour. What’s the best way of doing this? By changing small behaviours. By changing small behaviours you can change more complex behaviours. This is the principle of the Slim Habit, a behaviour change weight loss programme which achieves lasting change by learning new eating and lifestyle habits, slim habits. It also supplies the essential ingredient for successful behaviour change – support.
What is interesting is that there is a unique synergy between Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food initiative and a behaviour change based weight loss programme. This is particularly relevant following the identification of the social element of obesity. Why? Because of the opportunity to harness the power of community, not only to learn how to cook and to eat good, nutritious food, but to lose weight – permanently, by learning new slim habits. Both programmes have behaviour change as their main element. Both programmes provide support. Both programmes have the means to provide long-lasting results.
How fantastic would it be to be able to actually reduce the level of obesity in the country? How great would it be to be able to give people back their lives so that they could realise their full potential and enjoy a long, healthy life?
It is possible. There is a social solution to what has become a social problem.
The community has to become the driver for change. The Ministry of Food has already started the ball rolling. By providing the community with the right guidance, and support so that people can change their eating and lifestyle habits by using an effective weight loss behaviour programme, and the practical and educational support offered by the Ministry of Food, the tide could be turned on obesity. It’s a grand thought, it’s a great idea.
A speaker and writer on behavior change and weight loss, John McPhie is committed to helping people to change their behavior and lose weight permanently by learning new eating and lifestyle habits. Learn more about how to lose weight permanently – visit http://www.slimhabit.com
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Tags: bradford health, Change4life, jamie oliver, ministry of food, permanent weight loss, rotherham health, Slim habit
