“As health, wellness, nutrition, or fitness coach, a key aspect of our job is the ability to assist clients in adopting healthier behaviours that promote physical, mental, and social wellbeing.”
Healthcare experts understand that mere knowledge of the behaviors that impact health, whether positive or negative, does not often lead to actual changes in those behaviors. If it were as straightforward as being aware of the actions that promote good health, the prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption, and the consumption of highly processed foods would be significantly reduced, while the majority of individuals worldwide would incorporate regular exercise into their daily routines. It is evident that modifying health behaviors encompasses a much more intricate process than merely possessing information on the subject.
Health behaviors are influenced by a multifaceted process involving decision-making, habits, mental well-being, social support, past encounters with discrimination, healthcare accessibility, trauma, cultural factors, economic resources, and various other factors. These dynamics surrounding health behaviors are constantly evolving, making it ineffective to rely solely on a trial-and-error approach when working with clients. Instead, a more comprehensive and tailored approach is necessary to address the complexity and variability inherent in health behavior change.
What Are Health Behaviours?
Health behaviors encompass the decisions and actions that have a direct impact on the health and overall well-being of individuals, as well as entire populations.
While some experts define health behaviors as any actions that can influence health, regardless of their positive or negative effects, others specifically focus on behaviors that contribute positively to one’s health.
According to William Cockerham, a health behaviour, in its positive sense, refers to the activities undertaken by individuals with the intention of maintaining or improving their health, preventing health issues, or attaining a positive body image.
Health behaviors extend beyond individuals who simply aim to maintain their health; they also encompass those with physical disabilities and individuals diagnosed with chronic diseases. These individuals may strive to slow down the progression of their conditions, effectively manage their illnesses, or even work towards containing or reversing the disease altogether. Positive health behaviors, such as adopting a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, and avoiding smoking and drug use, can empower them to achieve these goals.
In the United States, several leading causes of illness and death are directly linked to health behaviors, including poor diet, smoking, and high blood pressure.
The most critical health-related behaviours encompass various aspects:
1. Diet
2. Exercise, physical activity, and sedentary behavior
3. Smoking
4. Drug use
5. Sex-related behaviors (such as unprotected sex)
6. Thoughts or actions impacting mental health
7. Thoughts or actions impacting social health
As health and wellness professionals, you can identify which of these behaviors you are best equipped to support your clients in addressing.
The choices individuals make regarding health behaviors are influenced by a complex interplay of social, environmental, and psychological factors known as “key determinants of health behaviors.”
Social determinants of health behaviors play a significant role, as the social environment influences individuals’ decision-making processes. It is important to understand that health status is not solely determined by individual choices. Approaching unhealthy behaviors solely as matters of individual choice can be counterproductive, as it tends to blame disadvantaged populations for resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms due to challenging social circumstances.
Social determinants of health include societal institutions, ideologies at various levels (family, community, regional, national, and global), inequalities, discrimination (such as racism and sexism), and agency (the individual’s power to make decisions and take action).
Environmental determinants of health behaviors also have an impact. The environment in which individuals live, work, and move influences their health behaviors. Some researchers refer to this as the “health ecosystem.” This model recognizes that an individual’s characteristics are influenced by their working conditions, living conditions, social and environmental resources, and the opportunities available to them, alongside the built and natural environment.
