Behavioral Economics-Why You’re Not Sticking to Your Work Out Program

1. Behavioral Economics-Why
You’re Not Sticking to Your
Work Out Program
By: Mitchell Blutt

2. Behavioral Economics-Why You’re Not Sticking
to Your Work Out Program
A professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, Mitchell Blutt is an award-winning physician
and health care executive. The CEO of health care investment firm Consonance Capital,
Mitchell Blutt sits on the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Health Incentives and
Behavioral Economics (CHIBE) external advisory board.

3. Behavioral Economics-Why You’re Not Sticking
to Your Work Out Program
Wondering why you can’t stick to your New Year’s stay-in-shape resolution? Behavioral
economics researchers suggest it’s because you don’t enjoy your current exercise
program.

4. Behavioral Economics-Why You’re Not Sticking
to Your Work Out Program
According to CHIBE director Kevin Volpp, enjoying an exercise program is way more
important than the amount of money you spend on it. Not only does this keep you
motivated enough to keep at it for a longer period, it also leaves you feeling good about
yourself. The reason for this is that habits are borne from enjoyment. You are more likely
to repeatedly do an exercise you like than one you don’t. Therefore, spending lots of
money on a gym subscription program you don’t appreciate or with an instructor you
don’t like will not keep you motivated past the burst of New Year’s energy; but enjoyment
will.

5. Behavioral Economics-Why You’re Not Sticking
to Your Work Out Program
In fact, studies done at the University of Chicago have shown that enjoyment from the
start has a far bigger impact than delayed rewards such as better health tomorrow.
Therefore, it is far better to do an exercise that you actually enjoy rather than one that
you think will have a larger health benefit.