Eating Breakfast as a Behavior Modification
Liberty University
PSYC 320 - Behavior Modification
Eating Breakfast as a Behavior Modification
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how true is that
really? Does it really make a difference if one eats breakfast or not? Several studies have pointed
toward yes. This study aims to increase the behavior of eating breakfast in the participant
through behavioral modification. Throughout the course of this study, eating breakfast will be
defined as intentionally and thoughtfully consuming a nutritious, balanced meal, consisting of at
least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal should consist of at least one fruit or vegetable,
something to provide carbohydrates (wheat, etc.), and something to provide protein (eggs, etc.).
The participant in the study will be a female college student who lives on her college
campus. This participant will start in the baseline phase and will be accustomed to typically
skipping breakfast for convenience reasons. The point of the study will be to heavily increase
caloric intake in the mornings through behavior modification. The end goal is for the participant
to have regularly eaten breakfast for the allotted time period once the treatment is applied.
The participant needs to meet these quotas in the beginning because the behavior
modification taking place is going to be fairly drastic and if they are already eating breakfast
sometimes, it will not offer the same big change that is being studied. The participant will be a
college student because a lot of people skip breakfast within this age group. A study was done in
2023 that measured breakfast intake in college students and it showed that only 35% of the
students were eating breakfast regularly (Adonu et al., 2023). If this study shows a positive result
after the behavior modification takes place, it could show other college students of the kind that
they should consider altering their routine and eating breakfast regularly too.
Research on the Target Behavior
Breakfast, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is the meal with which one breaks
the fast that they have been in since being asleep. It is the first meal of the day. Because you have
been sleeping all night, and therefore not eating, it is important to get something in your body
when you wake up that will fuel you to start your day. Contrary to popular belief, you do burn
calories when you are sleeping, so those calories need to be replenished when you are up for the
day because the body runs on them (Pacheco et al., 2023).
While there is not a lot of research specifically on how to modify the behavior of eating
breakfast, there have been many studies on the idea of breakfast and what you should and should
not do in terms of eating breakfast; what is the healthiest way, and what you should avoid. This
research can be utilized to help modify the behavior nonetheless. Despite the ample research on
breakfast, there are a number of people who skip breakfast entirely. Some for the purpose of
intermittent fasting, some for a simple lack of time, among other things. As stated, there is a lot
of controversy surrounding what is right in terms of breakfast, and while there may not be a one-
size-fits-all solution, most research has pointed toward eating breakfast being the right way to go
and that not consuming breakfast is the more harmful behavior (Gibney et al., 2018).
Studies have shown that eating breakfast consistently can have a sizeable impact on your
overall health. People who eat breakfast in the morning have been found to have less of an urge
to eat frequently at night, which has been deemed an unhealthy practice. A study in 2019 found
that consuming more calories at night can increase the risk of obesity by up to 80%, while
consuming more calories in the morning can help prevent the risk of obesity by up to 50%
( Lopez-Minguez et al., 2019).
Modifying this behavior will contribute to the study of whether when you eat your meals
really impacts an individual. While the goal of this study is the behavior modification itself, it
will also be interesting to see if modifying the behavior benefits the individual, as that is what
will inspire them to continue the behavior once modified. That will definitely be important in a
big change such as this one. Going from never eating breakfast to eating a hearty breakfast
regularly is both a dietary change and a lifestyle change because in some cases it may require the
individual to wake up earlier than they would otherwise, among other things. It will be intriguing
to see if it is deemed worth while health wise from the individuals standpoint.
Research on the Treatment Method
The treatment used in this study will be behavioral contract. A behavioral contract is a
written document usually provided by a professional and signed by the client that specifies the
target behavior as well as the consequences that will occur if the target behavior is not completed
for the specified amount of time (Miltenberger, 2016). Behavior contracting is frequently used by
doctors and other people in healthcare in order to help their patients make big lifestyle changes
(Neale, 1991). It will be beneficial to this study because this modification is a dietary change as
well as a bit of a lifestyle change, so it will help to hold the participant accountable.
The participant will also be required to share the behavioral contract with a close friend
to further keep them accountable. A 2020 study by Chhabria showed that lifestyle changes were
far more successful in individuals when there is involvement of an accountability partner. While
one could argue that the one who writes the behavioral contract could count as an accountability
partner, Chhabria found that it is better when there is a supportive accountability partner to help
the individual through the changes and encourage them. Eating breakfast seems like a minor
lifestyle change, which is exactly why an accountability partner will be implemented; to make
sure the participant does not let the new behavior slip through the cracks because of it’s seeming
insignificance, because the results could be significant (Chhabria et al., 2020).
The behavioral contract will state that the individual must consuming a nutritious,
balanced meal, consisting of at least 300 calories, before 10 am. The meal will consist of at least
one fruit or vegetable, something to provide carbohydrates, and something to provide protein.
The contract will also state that for each day the individual completes the desired behavior, they
can indulge in a piece of chocolate at the end of the day. If the behavior is not completed for a
day, the individual looses chocolate privileges.
Behavioral contracting was used in a study to help motivate people to take part in a
health promotion program that helped people advocate for their health by excercising regularly
and teaching them how to do so (Neale, 1991). 223 people enrolled in the program and 96 of
them signed a contract stating that they would partake in aerobic exercise three times a week. It
was found that the individuals who had signed the contracts at the begining of the study had
significantly better changes in health than those who did not sign the contracts. Also, the people
who experienced the best results and health benefits were the ones who had followed their
contracts fully (Neale, 1991).
Conclusion
Overall, the behavior modification of eating breakfast will hopefully take place in the
individual on a consistent basis. The individual will be motivated to complete the modification
each day because they will sign a behavioral contract stating that they will eat breakfast each day
and receive a piece of chocolate as a reward for each day successfully completed. The participant
will report at the end if the behavior modification altered anything else in their life subsequently
such as health, hunger levels throughout the day, etc. It is anticipated that the results will closely
resemble the ones previously discussed. When breakfast is consumed regularly, the participant
will experience lower hunger levels throughout the day and in the evening, and will be more
energized in the morning after having something to fuel their body. Consuming a balanced
breakfast daily could benefit the participants overall health, and cause them to feel better as a
result.
References
Adonu, R. E., Amoah, M., & Sahh, F. I. (2023). Breakfast intake and associated factors and
barriers among tertiary institution students in the western region, Ghana. BMC Nutrition,
9 (7).
Chhabria, K., Ross, K. M., Sacco, S. J., & Leahey, T. M. (2020). The assessment of supportive
accountability in adults seeking obesity treatment: Psychometric validation study.
National Library of Medicine, 22 (7).
Gibney, M. J., Barr, S. I., Bellisle, F., Drewnowski, A., Fagt, S., Livingstone, B., Masset, G.,
Varela Moreiras, G., Moreno, L. A., Smith, J., Vieux, F., Thielecke, F., & Hopkins, S.
(2018). Breakfast in human nutrition: The international breakfast research initiative.
Nutrients , 10 (5), 559.
Lopez-Minguez, J., Gómez-Abellán, P., & Garaulet, M. (2019). Timing of Breakfast, Lunch, and
Dinner. Effects on Obesity and Metabolic Risk. Nutrients , 11 (11), 24-26.
Miltenberger, R. (2016). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures. Cengage Learning.
Neale A. V. (1991). Behavioural contracting as a tool to help patients achieve better health.
Family practice , 8 (4), 336-342.
Simpson, J. A. (n.d.). Breakfast. The Oxford English Dictionary .
Pacheco, D., & Rehman, A. (2023, December 22). How your body uses calories while you
sleep .
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