Preliminary evidence suggests that sequentially changing smoking alongside other risk behaviors was more effective than simultaneous change .
Follow-up period and intervention characteristics impacted effectiveness for some outcomes .
Interventions comprising education ( e.g. , providing information about behaviors associated with health risks ) and skills training ( e.g. , teaching skills that equip participants to engage in less risky behavior ) and targeting multiple risk behaviors concurrently are associated with small changes in diet and physical activity .
Although on average smoking was reduced , it appeared changes in smoking were negatively associated with changes in other behaviors , suggesting it may not be optimal to target smoking simultaneously with other risk behaviors
CONTEXT Multiple risk behaviors are common and associated with developing chronic conditions such as heart disease , cancer , or Type 2 diabetes .
Eating the elephant whole or in slices: views of participants in a smoking cessation intervention trial on multiple behaviour changes as sequential or concurrent tasks
Background This paper explores smoking cessation participants ’ perceptions of attempting weight management alongside smoking cessation within the context of a  health improvement intervention implemented in Glasgow , Scotl and . Methods One hundred and thirty-eight participants were recruited from smoking cessation classes in areas of multiple deprivation in Glasgow and r and omised to intervention , receiving dietary advice , or to control groups .  The primary outcome of the study was to determine the % change in body weight . Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 15 intervention and 15 control participants at weeks 6 ( during the intervention ) and 24 ( at the end of the intervention ) . The current paper , though predominantly qualitative , links perceptions of behaviour modification to % weight change and cessation rates at week 24 thereby enabling a better underst and ing of the mediators influencing multiple behaviour change . Results Our findings suggest that participants who perceive separate behaviour changes as part of a broader approach to a healthier lifestyle , and hence attempt behaviour changes concurrently , may be at comparative advantage in positively achieving dual outcomes . Conclusions These findings highlight the need to assess participants ’ preference for attempting multiple behaviour changes sequentially or simultaneously in addition to assessing their readiness to change . Further testing of this hypothesis is warranted . Trial Registration IS RCT
Preliminary evidence suggests that sequentially changing smoking alongside other risk behaviors was more effective than simultaneous change .
Follow-up period and intervention characteristics impacted effectiveness for some outcomes .
Interventions comprising education ( e.g. , providing information about behaviors associated with health risks ) and skills training ( e.g. , teaching skills that equip participants to engage in less risky behavior ) and targeting multiple risk behaviors concurrently are associated with small changes in diet and physical activity .
Although on average smoking was reduced , it appeared changes in smoking were negatively associated with changes in other behaviors , suggesting it may not be optimal to target smoking simultaneously with other risk behaviors
CONTEXT Multiple risk behaviors are common and associated with developing chronic conditions such as heart disease , cancer , or Type 2 diabetes .