Health Promotion Essay -- Healthy Lifestyle Essay

Health by definition is the complete physical, mental and social well-being (Burch, 2001). In the past health has been defined as the absence of disease. Health promotion enables people the ability and resources to improve and control their overall health. Being able to adjust and adapt to various social and physical environments in day-to-day activities is a trait of a healthy individual. Health promotion is not just the responsibility of those individuals in the health field. An individual?s well-being reflects whether or not that person has a healthy lifestyle. Therefore health promotion becomes an issue for employers, retailers, sports and policy makers among others because issues such as safety and environmental factors will have an influence on the well-being of an individual (Ottawa Charter, 1986). Collaborative and coordinated efforts to provide safer goods and services, and a cleaner, more enjoyable environment should be the goal for all. The goal of all involved sho uld be to provide a healthier environment that will provide a better well-being for the population. Promoting health requires the detection of any barriers that would hinder the health promotion process and removal of them. Promoting health is, also, educating the public to current health issues. There are various aspects of health promotion. Health promotion can be applied to any group or environment. A few of the more popular places and populations we see health promotion being addressed more often are the workplace, community, among adolescent, and the elderly. However, I believe the most effective and important place to begin health promotion is within our school systems. Promoting a healthy lifestyle, bettering quality of life, and prev... ...r 1, 2001 from Expanded Academic Index ASAP database. Manson, S. M., (1997). One small step for Science, one giant lead for prevention. American Journal of Community Psychology, 25, 2, 215. Retrieved October 1, 2001 from Expanded Academic Index ASAP database. 1Center for Disease Control, (2001). Healthy Aging: Preventing Disease and Improving Quality of Life Among Older Americans. Retrieved October 1, 2001 from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/aag-aging.htm 2Center for Disease Control (2001). School Health Programs: An investment in Our Nation?s Future. Retrieved October 1, 2001 from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/ataglanc.htm Healthy People, (2001). http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/ Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986). First International Conference of Health Promotion. Retrieved October 1, 2001 from http://www.who.dk/policy/ottawa.htm