A lifestyle management programme (also referred to as a health promotion programme, health behaviour change programme, lifestyle improvement programme or wellness programme) is an intervention designed to promote positive lifestyle and behaviour change and is widely used in the field of
health promotion
Health promotion is, as stated in the 1986 World Health Organization (WHO) Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, the "process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health."
Scope
The WHO's 1986 Ottawa Charter for Healt ...
.
In extreme cases, such a programme may involve or follow up upon a
residential
A residential area is a land used in which housing predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas.
Housing may vary significantly between, and through, residential areas. These include single-family housing, multi-family residen ...
component, especially at the outset, to establish the initial foundation of behavioural change.
Definition
Lifestyle management programmes are closely linked to the concept of health promotion, which is "the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health."
Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
, WHO, Geneva, 1986.
Based on this, a lifestyle management programme is defined as a structured, action-oriented health promotion initiative designed to help individuals improve their health, reduce health risks and promote healthy behaviours.
Lifestyle management programmes can target a range of different health concerns and areas, such as physical activity, stress, smoking, and nutrition.
[Buck Consultants. Working Well: A Global Survey of Health Promotion and Workplace Wellness Strategies. 2008; Buck Consultants Limited.] They are used in a variety of different settings, however most commonly in workplaces and community or public health initiatives.
Implementation
Lifestyle management programmes can be delivered as a standalone initiative, however they are generally used as part of an integrated, multi-component health promotion programme, incorporating a range of interventions. A
health risk assessment
A health risk assessment (also referred to as a health risk appraisal and health & well-being assessment) is a questionnaire about a person's medical history, demographic characteristics and lifestyle. It is one of the most widely used screening t ...
or appraisal is often used as a starting point to identify health risks and then target appropriate programmes based on the results.
They can be delivered through a variety of mediums, including online, face-to-face with a health coach or trainer, or telephonically.
Benefits
Reviews and academic studies exploring the effectiveness and impact of lifestyle management programmes, when used as part of a wider, multi-component health promotion programme, have found that they can:
* Reduce health risks
* Reduce medical and healthcare costs
* Improve productivity
* Reduce
absenteeism
Absenteeism is a habitual pattern of absence from a duty or obligation without good reason. Generally, absenteeism is unplanned absences. Absenteeism has been viewed as an indicator of poor individual performance, as well as a breach of an implici ...
* Reduce the incidence and severity of chronic health conditions.
Providers
There are a number of different providers offering lifestyle management programmes, including
vielife, Staywell,
Healthways
Tivity Health, formerly Healthways, is a provider of health improvement, fitness and social engagement solutions. Tivity Health is headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee and has campuses in Franklin, Tennessee and Chandler, Arizona. The company wa ...
,
CIGNA
Cigna is an American multinational managed healthcare and insurance company based in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Its insurance subsidiaries are major providers of medical, dental, disability, life and accident insurance and related products and se ...
and LifeMojo.
There are also organisations which offer related treatments and therapies which support these programmes. Typically these cover Yoga, Tai Chi or meditation.
As an example - Re-Vitalise retreats in the UK offer combined Tai Chi and meditation focussing on the health benefits and de-stressing aspects of these arts
See also
*
Health promotion
Health promotion is, as stated in the 1986 World Health Organization (WHO) Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, the "process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health."
Scope
The WHO's 1986 Ottawa Charter for Healt ...
*
Total Worker Health Total Worker Health is a trademarked strategy defined as policies, programs, and practices that integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness prevention efforts to advance worker well-being. It ...
*
Workplace health promotion Workplace health promotion is the combined efforts of employers, employees, and society to improve the mental and physical health and well-being of people at work. The term workplace health promotion denotes a comprehensive analysis and design of hu ...
*
Workplace wellness
Workplace wellness, also known as corporate wellbeing outside the United States, is a broad term used to describe activities, programs, and/or organizational policies designed to support healthy behavior in the workplace. This often involves healt ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lifestyle Management Programme
Health promotion