Plant-based retreat study highlights confidence gap in long-term diet change

People who are further along in adopting a whole-food, plant-based diet are significantly more confident in maintaining those eating habits, while those at the beginning of the journey face lower self-belief and a number of practical barriers, according to a new peer-reviewed study published in Cureus.

• Study found self-efficacy increased significantly as participants progressed through stages of plant-based dietary change
• Eating out was the most commonly reported barrier, followed by meal preparation time and social pressure
• Researchers say targeted post-retreat support could help participants maintain long-term dietary changes

Researchers from the University of the Pacific conducted a secondary analysis of survey data from 73 adults attending a six-day Plant Strong residential lifestyle retreat in North Carolina. The study explored participants' stage of dietary change, confidence in maintaining a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet, and the barriers and motivations influencing long-term adherence.

The research found that almost half of participants (47.9%) had already reached the maintenance stage, meaning they had followed a whole-food, plant-based diet for more than six months. Another 26% were preparing to make the transition, while smaller proportions were in the action, contemplation or pre-contemplation stages.

Perhaps the clearest finding was the relationship between confidence and long-term success. Participants in the maintenance stage recorded the highest levels of self-efficacy, while those still considering dietary change scored significantly lower. Statistical analysis showed a strong association between stage of change and confidence in maintaining plant-based eating habits under challenging circumstances, such as stressful situations or social gatherings.

Lead author David M. Goldman and colleagues wrote that the findings were consistent with previous dietary behavior research but provided new insight into people voluntarily attending immersive lifestyle interventions.

The researchers suggest this confidence gap presents an opportunity for targeted support, particularly for participants who are motivated to change but have not yet begun adopting a plant-based diet.

Practical barriers remained common even among this highly motivated group.

The biggest challenge reported was finding suitable food when eating away from home, with 84.9% identifying restaurant or dining-out options as at least a minor barrier. Meal preparation time ranked second, affecting nearly three-quarters of respondents, while almost 59% reported social pressure from friends or family.

Knowledge about preparing plant-based meals was identified as a barrier by around half of participants, although cost and conflicting nutrition information were considered relatively minor concerns.

When asked what motivated them most, improving long-term health emerged as the dominant driver. More than 93% described better long-term health as "very helpful" in supporting their dietary choices.

Physical energy gains and access to recipes or meal plans were also widely viewed as important facilitators, while household support produced mixed responses. Some participants viewed family support as a major benefit, while an equal proportion said it made no difference.

Ethical and environmental concerns were less influential overall than health-related motivations, although they remained important for a proportion of respondents.

The researchers also examined whether barriers differed depending on participants' current eating habits.

Those already following entirely plant-based diets were much less likely to report taste, texture or cooking knowledge as significant barriers than omnivorous participants. However, after adjusting for multiple statistical comparisons, these differences no longer reached statistical significance, suggesting larger studies will be needed to confirm the findings.

The authors note that the study population differed substantially from the general public. Participants were predominantly older, female, White and highly educated, and all had voluntarily enrolled in a residential lifestyle retreat focused on plant-based nutrition. As a result, the findings should not be assumed to represent broader populations.

They also acknowledge that the research captured only a single point in time and cannot determine whether confidence leads to dietary change or develops as people become more successful at maintaining plant-based eating.

Nevertheless, the authors argue the findings reinforce the importance of supporting people beyond the initial intervention.

"Persistent environmental barriers, particularly eating away from home, point to the value of post-retreat support strategies that build coping self-efficacy for real-world settings," they conclude.

The researchers say future studies should investigate whether different types of motivation, such as health, ethics or disease management, influence long-term adherence differently, while also examining more diverse populations and following participants over longer periods.