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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...

and Burger King Holdings Inc.

have also said they will phase out trans fat from their products.

KFC said the change in cooking oils will not change how its fried chicken tastes.

"We have safeguarded the recipe and the flavor profile," said Doug Hasselo, KFC's chief food innovation officer.

Hasselo said the new cooking oil costs more, but the chain will absorb the extra expense without passing it along to customers.

The zero grams trans fat items at KFC also include its potato wedges.

Some of KFC's non-fried items still contain trans fat, including biscuits, pot pies, macaroni and cheese, and some desserts.

The company said it's working to remove trans fat from those items.

KFC was unveiling television advertising Monday to promote its switch to cooking oil without trans fat.

KFC stores will put up signs touting the conversion, and the chicken buckets will carry the health message within a week or two.

The company won praise from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer group that pushed for KFC to switch to a healthier cooking oil.

"To get rid of this one major problem improves their customers' health automatically, without the consumers doing anything," said Michael Jacobson, the group's executive director.

Customers at a KFC restaurant in the chain's hometown said they appreciated the change.

Steve Garber, part of a recent lunch...