In health psychology, we look at how behaviour affects health, so we can help people change the behaviours that lead to good health and well-being. In this way, we support the prevention of chronic mental and physical illness. For example, psychologists who work in this field might do research on how to stop people from smoking and find new ways to get them to do things like exercise.
Another example, most people know that eating a lot of sugar is bad for their health, but many people keep doing it even though it might have short-term and long-term consequences. Health psychologists look at the psychological factors that make people make these kinds of health decisions and support positive transformational change.
