An application of the stage model of behavior change to dietary fat reduction.

To assess the applicability of Prochaska and DiClemente's stage model to dietary change, stage of dietary fat reduction was assessed in two samples of adults. Results were consistent across the two samples. Males and females differed in their distribution across five stages of change, with more males than females in a precontemplation stage and more females than males in a maintenance stage. Significant positive correlates with stage for men and women were age, education, body mass index, number of chronic conditions and being told one has a high serum cholesterol. For both genders, stage of dietary fat reduction was significantly associated with percent of calories from fat, even when controlling for demographic and health status covariates.