Which of the following is an appropriate method for determining the effectiveness of a client's health behavior?

• A. The client reports that they are receiving plenty of social support.
• B. The client is progressing through the stages of change.
• C. The client is losing significant amounts of weight.
• D. The client is compliant with the coach during training sessions.

Answer: (A)

Social support is a strong indicator of whether a health behavior change can be sustained. When a client reports plenty of social support from family, friends, peers, or a accountability network, they have external resources that help with planning, problem-solving, and staying motivated, especially when challenges arise. This supportive context reduces barriers, increases accountability, and reinforces the new behaviors in daily life, making long-term maintenance more likely.

Progressing through stages of change shows readiness, but readiness alone doesn’t guarantee that the new behavior is actually being practiced or maintained. Weight loss is an important outcome, but it can be influenced by factors beyond the target behavior and may not reflect ongoing adherence or the quality of the behavior change. Compliance during training sessions indicates engagement in a structured setting but doesn't necessarily confirm that the health behavior will be sustained outside those sessions.