We are constantly bombarded by messages that tell us to change our lifestyle and improve our health. In the information age, there are too many conflicting voices assaulting us from all directions. It can be overwhelming, confusing, and ultimately lead us to just give up.
Too few people know, however, that there are behavioral health scientists out there studying the optimal ways to change our lifestyle to live healthier, happier lives.
Our everyday behaviors affect the way we think and feel, and behavioral health scientists dedicate their professional lives to understanding which behaviors are most helpful for various problems. The problem is that these behavioral health scientists are just too damn busy advancing their field through research and treating patients to spread the word about their science to others. There are treasure troves of information, treatments, and simple lifestyle changes that are not reaching the public sphere. Instead of hearing the voices of behavioral scientists, the void is filled with marketing and non-expert advice that can ultimately be harmful to our health. Currently, risk for the major causes of death and disability (depression, cardiovascular disease, cancer, suicide, kidney disease, diabetes) can be reduced with scientifically-supported behavioral health strategies and treatments.
We need clear messages from reputable sources on how to Do Healthy – to change the things we DO on a daily basis to help us improve our mental and physical health.
We have to Do Healthy, so we can Be Healthy.
The Do Healthy Be Healthy podcast was borne out of a compelling annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine during the presidency of Dr. Sherry Pagoto. Dr. Pagoto inspired Dr. Whited and his lab to do their part to lead the narrative on behavioral health and spread the science and practice of health behavior change to the people who stand to benefit the most.
Dr. Whited is a behavioral health scientist at East Carolina University. He is heavily involved in the Clinical Health Psychology Doctoral Program and is passionate about training other behavioral health scientists and treatment providers so that they can go on to make new discoveries and impact the lives of people who are suffering.
Dr. Whited has always been frustrated with his field’s “shitty PR” and he’s very pleased that podcasting is a way he can be part of the solution.