The science of sustaining health behavior change: The health maintenance consortium

Objective: To enhance understanding of the long-term maintenance of behavior change, as well as effective strategies for achieving sustainable health promotion and disease prevention through the Health Maintenance Consortium (HMC). Methods: This introductory research synthesis prepared by the resource center gives context to this theme issue by providing an overview of the HMC and the articles in this journal. Results: It explores the contributions to our conceptualization of behavior change processes and intervention strategies, the trajectory of effectiveness of behavioral and social interventions, and factors influencing the long-term maintenance of behavioral and social interventions. Conclusions: Future directions for furthering the science of maintaining behavior change and reducing the gaps between research and practice are recommended.