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But What If We Pay You? New Research Into Breaking Bad Habits

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Behavior and lifestyle are the two main causes of chronic disease and premature death.

Finding the motivation to change your lifestyle for the better can sometimes be a challenge. But what if you were getting paid to do so? The Vermont Center on Behavior and Health is an interdisciplinary hub for research on the impact personal behaviors and choices have on lifelong health. They look at why certain populations are more at risk for making decisions that cause health complications in the long run, and what actions can be taken to intervene.

We talk to Dr. Stephen Higgins, the director of the Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, and Dr. Philip Ades, the director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention at the University of Vermont Medical Center, about the research they do on risk behaviors, like the use of drugs or cigarettes, and how incentive-based intervention minimizes these behaviors.

Also on the program, we travel to a laboratory at the Vermont Department of Health to talk to microbiologist Christine Matusevich about the collection and testing of mosquitos for diseases like Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus.

Plus, we sort through our virtual mailbag to read your comments and questions from the week.

Broadcast live on Thursday, July 23, 2015 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
 

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
Erin was an assistant producer for Vermont Edition.
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