How to advocate for your health

• Patients often follow health advice they perceive as suboptimal, suggesting doctors should explore patient concerns and co-create treatment plans rather than assuming compliance with recommendations
• Understanding the psychological barriers to health behaviour change is essential for effective clinical practice and improving patient outcomes
• Clinicians should engage in shared decision-making to address why patients may distrust or resist medical guidance, rather than simply reinforcing standard advice

Dr Xand van Tulleken and Professor Sunita Sar explore why we follow advice we suspect is bad for us.

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