Behavioral Science

Our Approach

Behavioral Science can strengthen participant engagement and adherence and offer insights on strategies to promote behavior change and real-world applicability of food is medicine interventions.

Behavioral Science Task Force

The Behavioral Science Task Force closely partners with funded studies to provide support and guidance on behavioral science aspects, review study protocols to ensure effective integration of behavioral science and consumer marketing principles and develop a framework to enhance engagement and adherence in FIM interventions.
Task Force Roster

Health Care by Food Behavioral Science
Webinar Series

This series is designed to support researchers by exploring how behavioral science and marketing strategies can be integrated into Food Is Medicine research. To introduce the series, we invite you to watch our opening webinar, featuring task force chairs Dr. Kevin Volpp and Dr. Cait Lamberton, who provide an overview of the Health Care by Food initiative and the series’ goals and areas of focus.

Upcoming Webinars:

We're honored to feature a dynamic lineup of experts in behavioral science and marketing. Please register for the full series to receive updates and access to all upcoming LIVE webinars.

Webinar Registration - Zoom

Webinar Schedule

Date/Time Topic Speaker/Host
2025
April (recorded) Introduction: Why Behavioral Science Matters for Health Care by Food (Video)
 Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, FAHA
Cait Lamberton, PhD, MBA
May 6
(recorded) 

Deciding Between "Program Evaluation" and "Mechanisms Study"

 Justin R. Sydnor, PhD
June 3
(recorded)

Behavioral science for recruitment and retention of study participants

 Elizabeth Linos, PhD
July 1
(recorded)

Introducing the Be-Sci TIP: Quick-Turn Testing for Stronger Interventions

 Cait Lamberton, PhD, MBA
September 2
(recorded)

Branding Your Program/Intervention: Why and How

 Kevin L. Keller, PhD, MBA
Punam Keller, PhD, MBA
September 15
3:30 – 4: 30 pm ET		 Marketing Insights about Food and Food Consumption Pierre Chandon, PhD
Julio Sevilla, PhD, MBA
October 21
3:30 – 4: 30 pm ET		 Policies related to health/food interventions

This session spotlights the REAL Food Public Policy Framework developed by Peggy J. Liu and Kelly L. Haws, which offers a behavioral science lens on how food policies can better support the diverse eating motivations of consumers. This webinar emphasizes how food decisions are influenced by various eating motivations such as taste, health, fullness, price, convenience, waste avoidance, and social and cultural norms—and how policies can leverage this understanding to improve both individual and population health. The REAL framework (Restrictions, Economic levers, Accessibility, and Labeling) serves as a tool for designing strategies that drive engagement and behavior change in alignment with Food Is Medicine initiatives.

 Peggy J Liu, PhD
Kelly L. Haws, PhD, MBA
November 4
3:30 – 4: 30 pm ET		 Human Story Adoption: Food and Health Shawn Dennis
2026
Jan 6
3:30 – 4: 30 pm ET		 Network and Peer Effects in Health Behaviors Marissa King, PhD
Feb 3
3:30 – 4: 30 pm ET		 Adaptation, Satiety and Long-Term Behavior Change Joe Redden, PhD, MBA
March 3
3:30 – 4: 30 pm ET		 Mechanisms of Achieving Sustained Behavior Change Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, FAHA