The American Journal of Health Promotion has defined health promotion as “the art and science of helping people change their lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal health. Optimal health is achieved through a key balance of physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social elements. Lifestyle change can be facilitated through a combination of efforts to enhance awareness, change behavior, and create environments that support good health practices.”
The major health problems experienced in developed countries result from acute and chronic diseases related to individual behavior. Smoking is the major cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Excessive alcohol use results in accidents, injuries, domestic violence, and an increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases. Lack of exercise and consumption of high saturated fat foods contribute to coronary heart disease. Changing individual behavior results in the prevention of disease or injury, in...
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McGinnnis JM, Foege WH (1993) Actual causes of death in the United States. JAMA 270:2007
Schwartz R (2005) At the cutting edge or the center of the storm? Innovation in public health through health promotion and education in state health departments. Prev Chronic Dis [serial online], November 2005. http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2005/nov/05_0074.htm
US Preventive Services Task Force (1996) Guide to clinical preventive services: Report of the US Preventive Services Task Force, 2nd ed. Williams&Wilkins, Baltimore, MD
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American Journal of Health Promotion. Cleveland, OH. www.healthpromotionjournal.com
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Aging for Older Adults. Atlanta, GA (12/01/2005). http://www.cdc.gov/aging
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Braza, D.W. (2008). Health Promotion. In: Loue, S.J., Sajatovic, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-33754-8_215
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-33754-8_215
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-33753-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-33754-8
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