Cholesterol

Risk behaviors, when ended, modified, or replaced by healthy alternatives, can produce immediate and noticeable benefits in some cases.  Quitting smoking, for example, can make it easier to get work done, thanks to not having to take smoking breaks all day.  It can save hundreds, even thousands of dollars a year in “discretionary income”, and make it possible to enjoy another use of the money.  Of course, it can also produce “withdrawal” symptoms, increase stress, lead to weight gain, or have other significant “costs” as well.

Most risk behaviors, however, have a long-term payoff, and since by definition “risk” is a statistical probability rather than a certainty, it is difficult for any individual to be certain a given behavior change has had any effect at all.  Some, fortunately, pay off in weight loss, energy gains, feeling better about oneself, or other benefits that may be considered well worth it by individuals, even if they are not certain about the health benefits.

Many employers and policy gurus may feel that the intrinsic benefits of reforming one’s health behaviors — whether to manage a chronic disease, reduce an existing risk condition, or reduce general risk o...

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