MyHabeats
MyHabeats
Empowering patients post-bariatric surgery
Behavioural Problem Framing, Behavioural Analysis, Behaviour Change Design
Supporting lifelong healthy habits after weight loss surgery.
Building a bridge between medical advice and daily action
About MyHabeats
MyHabeats is not just an app; it's a lifeline for patients navigating the complex journey of bariatric surgery recovery. Their mission is clear: empower patients to establish and maintain healthier eating habits and lifestyles post-surgery. However, maintaining user engagement with the app proved challenging, with engagement significantly dropping off after the initial recovery period.
The platform offers tools and insights not just for patients but also for healthcare practitioners, bridging the gap between medical advice and daily patient actions.
Turning one step into many
Project Overview
When patients return home after surgical procedures that help with weight loss, they often face the daunting task of adjusting to new eating habits and lifestyle changes. MyHabeats recognised the need to enhance patient engagement with their app to prevent relapse into old, unhealthy behaviours. This project was a partnership aimed at one thing: making sure that the MyHabeats app wasn't just downloaded but became a vital part of patients' daily lives. At Alterkind, we joined forces with MyHabeats to tackle the decline in engagement and to instill lasting healthy habits.
"Success is 30% surgery, 70% behaviour change."
Katie Milioni, CEO of MyHabeats
When new fades, old habits return
Context and Background
When patients undergo bariatric surgery, they are signing up for a lifetime of change, not just a medical procedure. Adjusting to a new lifestyle post-surgery can be overwhelming. Patients must adopt new dietary habits, manage portion sizes, and navigate emotional and social challenges. MyHabeats had the tools to support this change, but they faced a key hurdle: although patients initially used the app, engagement waned quickly, and old habits crept back in. This wasn't just about keeping an app relevant; it was about keeping patients healthy.
Pinpointing the struggle
Challenge
People faced a steep drop in app engagement after the first exhilarating month of recovery. This was more than a usability issue—it was a behavioural challenge. Patients struggled not only with the app but with the broader lifestyle changes required post-surgery. Old habits died hard, and the app's community support mechanisms weren't hitting the mark. Additionally, technical snags made initial interactions frustrating.
Behaviour at every step
Implementation
Solutions to support people’s journey
MyHabeats becomes a recording tool, as well as a guide, place for support and reassurance.
Pre-Surgery Integration: Introduced the app to patients before surgery to familiarise them with its features and begin habit formation early. This early engagement leveraged patients' high motivation levels and set the stage for post-surgery success.
Simplified Onboarding: Streamlined the setup process with user-friendly interfaces and clear guidance, reducing technical barriers and easing the transition into new routines.
Personalised Support from Trusted Experts: Collaborated with nutritionists to provide tailored advice, ensuring the app's guidance aligned with individual patient needs and lifestyles. This was key as each patient has different nutritional needs, cultural eating habits and choices so generic advice wouldn’t cut it.
Behavioural Nudges and Reminders: Implemented timely app-based prompts to encourage healthy choices, particularly during high-risk times like late evenings.
Shifting routines with people
Solution
Alterkind developed a strategy that not only tackled the immediate challenges of the app but also aimed at creating lasting behavioural change. This wasn’t about simple app usage; it was about integrating the app into the very fabric of patients' new lifestyles.
We designed an approach using our Behaviour Thinking® framework focused on helping patients establish, stop, and evolve key behaviours for a healthier lifestyle.
We introduced MyHabeats to patients early, months before surgery. This gave them time to get familiar with the app, helping to build new habits from the start. The aim was to make MyHabeats a natural part of their routine as they prepared for their new lifestyle.
We also recognised that the environment plays a huge role in shaping habits. Simple adjustments, like reorganising the fridge to make healthy foods more visible and accessible, helped nudge patients towards better choices. By making the healthier option the easier one, patients were more likely to stay on track.
For long-term success, we explored how the app can offer personalised feedback and built a supportive community within it. Patients could connect, share their experiences, and find encouragement, helping them feel less isolated and more supported. This combination of personalisation and community made it easier for patients to sustain their new habits over time.
The Fridge Focus
The fridge became a surprising focus of the project. With a direct relationship between the new eating habits Myhabeats was aiming to form and the influence of people’s fridge.
Creating Room for Health
One common challenge was a lack of fridge space for healthy ingredients. In response, we recommended MyHabeats partner with equipment charities and financing groups to help patients get the fridge space they needed—solving a practical but critical barrier.
Fridge Makeover
Recognised the fridge as a pivotal element in patients' eating habits. We advised patients on reorganising their fridges to make healthier options more accessible and visible, effectively reducing temptations.
Changing the Home Environment
Encouraged patients to remove unhealthy foods from their homes and involve family members in supporting their new lifestyle, turning potential barriers into facilitators of change.
Summary of Success
By integrating behavioural science with strategic design, Alterkind helped MyHabeats address the core challenges of patient engagement and habit formation. Our tailored strategies provided a roadmap for enhancing the app and supporting patients more effectively. Early signs are promising, with increased engagement and patient empowerment paving the way for better health outcomes.
Future Outlook
MyHabeats plans to fully implement these strategies and monitor their impact on patient engagement and health outcomes. There's potential for ongoing collaboration to refine and adapt these strategies, ensuring they continue to meet patients' evolving needs.
“Alterkind’s work has been nothing short of transformative. The project report not only impressed our design team and physicians but also sparked new insights and discussions that we hadn’t considered before. Several points in the report truly blew us away. The level of depth and strategic thinking has been invaluable, and we’re excited to explore where we can take this next."
Katie Milioni, CEO of MyHabeats
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Lauren Alys Kelly
Ulf Gruener
Larissa Akem
Tamara Eberle
Valentina Tan
Fabio Sinibaldi
Karoline Lehtma
Adam Parkes
Srishti Gupta
Diwakar Srinath Azhagesan
Irfaan Arif
