In health psychology, we look at how behavior affects health so we can help people change their behaviors to 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 research how to stop people from smoking and find new ways to get them to do things like exercise.
Another example is that 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 health decisions and support positive transformational change.
