Health Improvement by Lifestyle Modification
摘要
The development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mainly type II Diabetes Mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, some types of cancers and chronic respiratory diseases are the result of upstream to downstream determinants of health. One of the key strategies is lifestyle modification targeting to reduce the development of corresponding physiological and metabolic risk factors and ultimately achieve health promotion and NCDs prevention. This chapter overviewed how unhealthy lifestyles such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol and smoking compromise individuals’ health; and the existing treatment-based secondary and tertiary interventions on lifestyle modification. The main challenges to community participation and capacity building on lifestyle modification services are identified. The chapter gives an outline of certain aspects of investing and strengthening lifestyle modification in primary care systems. An integrated approach for effective and sustainable delivery of lifestyle modification in primary care settings in the local context is addressed. Through the shifts of the actions towards population-oriented primary healthcare intervention, the heavy toll on healthcare especially the secondary and tertiary intervention shall thereby be reduced and relieved, driving sustainable physical well-being and quality of individuals’ lives, alongside longevity.