Applying behavioral methods to nutritional counseling.

A brief survey of what appear to be the most effective and promising techniques of human behavioral change, as applied to nutritional counseling, is presented. Three critical environments of the patient require assessment and intervention: (a) The physical environment, or the physical setting in which the patient functions; (b) the social environment, or other people with whom the patient comes in contact; and (c) the private environment which consists of thoughts, emotions, and basic physiologic systems. Specific assessment and treatment procedures to effect change in each of these environments are outlined, and some suggestions are made concerning the appropriate use of self-help materials.