Supporting Habit Formation in Pre-Meal Photo Capture: A Longitudinal Study of Behavior Change Techniques

Abstract

Pre-meal photo capture is lightweight only with a smartphone, yet habit formation requires repeatedly initiating and completing the action within the narrow window before the first bite. We examine how supports based on behavior change techniques can shape capture adherence, perceived habit, and support needs over time. Using a participant-informed selection process, we implemented three smartphone supports targeting Prompts/cues, Focus on past success, and Social support. We evaluated them in a five-week field study with 54 participants, spanning support, withdrawal, and reinstatement, followed by interviews and a three-week follow-up. Across 4,945 main meals, 63.9\% were confirmed pre-meal captures, and adherence was broadly maintained across phases. Perceived automaticity and spontaneous remembering improved mainly during initial support. As capture became more familiar, participants combined spontaneous remembering with deliberate strategies, reduced active feature use while continuing to value support availability, and carried the practice forward through accumulated records, familiar tools, and chosen relationships. These findings frame BCT support for pre-meal photo capture as a configurable arrangement. Systems should preserve a predictable capture pathway while adapting when, how, and through whom support remains available.