1. 1: Self, Family, and Community
Your Health Today, 6th edition

2. Health and Wellness
Health: state of complete physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being
Not merely the absence of disease and infirmity
Wellness: active process of adopting patterns of behavior that can lead to improved health and heightened life satisfaction

3. Dimensions of Wellness
Achievement of the highest possible level of health across these dimensions:
Physical
Social
Intellectual
Emotional
Spiritual
Environmental
Occupational
Financial

4. Figure 1.1 The wellness continuum.
Wellness may be conceptualized as a continuum. At one end is terminal illness and premature death; at the other is a sense of vitality, wellness, and optimal health.
Source: Adapted from “Definition of Health Promotion,” by M. P. O’Donnell, American Journal of Health Promotion, 1 (5), premier issue, 1986.

5. The Socioecological Model of Health and Wellness
Addresses interrelationship between individual and environment
Individual has unique set of characteristics, including genetics, age, and knowledge
Environment is anything external to us: relationships with others, community resources, physical and built environment, etc.
Many social determinants of health influence the options you have and the choices you make

6. Population Health
Life expectancy has not increased as fast in the United States as in other countries
Measuring differences in health outcomes between populations can reveal why gains not equally shared
Demographics: statistical data about populations or groups of people
Population health: health outcomes of a group of people, and the distribution of those outcomes within the group

7. Health Disparities
Result from systemic and avoidable social and economic practices and policies that create barriers for some groups
Geographical disparities:
Americans have greater health risks than individuals in other high-income countries
Health disparities also seen between U.S. regions

8. Figure 1.3 Health Olympics 2014, life expectancy in 35 countries.
Source: Population Health Forum, by School of Public Health, University of Washington, (based on Human Development Report 2015, by United Nations Development Program, Table 1,

9. Public Health Discipline focused on the health of populations
Health promotion: actions designed to maintain a current health state or encourage a more desirable state of health
Disease prevention: defensive actions to ward off specific diseases and their consequences
Initiatives must balance needs and rights of individuals against needs and rights of others

10. Community Health
Activities directed toward improving the health of a whole community, or activities employing resources shared by the members of the community
Public Health Service, led by Surgeon General and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
State and local government programs
Nongovernmental organizations

11. The Healthy People Initiative
Leading health indicators: priority public health issues to be targeted and measured
Nutrition, physical activity, and obesity
Maternal, infant, and child health
Tobacco
Substance abuse
Reproductive and sexual health
Mental health
Injury and violence
Environmental quality
Clinical preventive services (such as immunizations)
Access to health care
Oral health
Social determinants of health

12. Individual Choice Versus Societal Responsibility
Ethical questions:
Are individuals responsible for their health choices, given the powerful influence of their environment?
Should individuals be held accountable for costs to society of poor health choices?
Is government justified in enacting health-related laws, regulations, and policies?
Should society take action to prevent people from taking risks?
Is health a basic right?

13. Health-Related Behavior Choices
Choices concerning physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social well-being
Areas where individuals have most control over managing their health

14. The Health Belief Model
Health behaviors influenced by:
Perceived susceptibility (risk for a problem)
Perceived seriousness of consequences
Perceived benefits of specific action
Perceived barriers to taking action
All these considerations enter into your decision-making process when making health-related behavior change decisions

15. The Stages of Change Model
Also called Transtheoretical Model (TTM); takes into account thinking, feelings, behaviors, relationships, and many other factors
Stages of change:
Precontemplation
Contemplation
Preparation
Action
Maintenance
Termination
Relapse, backsliding into a former health state, is the rule rather than exception

16. Figure 1.4 The stages of change.
Stages or steps include Precontemplation, “Not me!”; Contemplation, “Well… maybe”; Preparation, “What should I do to prepare?”; Action, “I’m doing it”; and Maintenance, “I can change!” Relapse can happen at any stage of change. It’s part of the process.

17. Creating a Behavior Change Plan
Accept responsibility for your own health and make a commitment to change
Set goals
Develop action steps
Identify benefits
Identify positive enablers
Sign a behavior change contract
Create benchmarks
Assess accomplishments and revise, if necessary

18. Being an Informed Consumer of Health Information
Develop health literacy: ability to read, understand, and act on health information
Nine out of ten American adults have trouble interpreting health materials
Many factors contribute to health risk: probability of exposure to a hazard that can result in negative consequences
Emotional responses affect how we interpret and react to information

19. Being an Informed Consumer of Health Information (2)
Understanding medical research studies
Basic medical research, epidemiological studies, clinical studies
Careful consideration of health recommendations involves asking a series of critical questions
Formal study or expert opinion?
If formal clinical study, randomized and double-blind?
People in the study similar to you?
How many participants?
Published in a reputable, peer-reviewed journal?

20. Looking Ahead While reading each chapter of this text:
Reflect on your current level of health
Know your predispositions based upon family history
Identify the behaviors that are affecting your health
Assess your readiness to change, and develop a behavior change plan
Think about the influences that shape your decisions
Share health information with family members and friends, and find ways to make a difference in your community

21. Review How are health and wellness defined?
What factors influence a person’s health?
What health-related trends are occurring in our society?
What is health-related behavior change?
What challenges do we face in changing our health behavior?
How do genes affect your health?