ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Behavior change (public health)

Behavior change is when we try to make people do things that will make them healthier or safer. For example, brushing your teeth every day or wearing a helmet while riding a bike are good behaviors that can help keep you healthy and safe.

Public health is all about keeping the general population healthy, and behavior change is one way to do that. There are many things that can affect behavior, like our beliefs, habits, and the people around us.

Sometimes, public health experts use different strategies to try to change behavior. They might use education, like teaching people about the benefits of exercise, to try to get them to start being more active. Or, they might use incentives or disincentives, like giving people a reward for quitting smoking or making it more expensive to buy unhealthy foods.

Overall, behavior change is about trying to make things better for everyone by encouraging good habits and discouraging bad ones. It can be hard work, but it's important for keeping us healthy and safe.