DEPARTM E N T O F
BE H AV I OU R A L
C E S LE CTR E F I V E
SCIEN
HEALTH ENHANCING AND HEALTH COMPROMISING
BEHAVIOURS
CONTENT
HEALTH BEHAVIOUR
EXERCISES
SMOKING
DRINKING
DETREMINATS OF HEALTH RELATED BEHAVIOURS
LIFESTYLE PROBLEMS
HEALTH BEHAVIOURS
• Human behaviour, especially health
behaviour, is complex and not always
readily understandable
• Health behaviour, like other behaviour, is
motivated by stimuli in an individual’s
environment
• The response to such stimuli may or may
not be directly related to health
HEALTH BEHAVIOURS
•Motivation which leads to health
influencing behavior may also not be
related to health per se
•Motivation for health behavior is
dynamic and not static
DEFINITION
Health behaviors have been defined in various ways. For example, Conner and
Norman (1996) define them as any activity undertaken for the purpose of
preventing or detecting disease or for improving health and well being.
Gochman ( 1997 ) in the Handbook of Health Behavior Research defines them as
`behavior patterns, actions and habits that relate to health maintenance, to health
restoration and to health improvement' (Vol. 1, p. 3).
How strong is the link between behavior and health?
• Genetics = 20%
• Medical care = 10%
• Other factors = 30%
• Behavior = 40%
HEALTH BEHAVIOURS
Behaviors which are related to the health status of the individual.
Divided into two types:
1. Health-enhancing behaviors (“immunogens”)
2. Health-harming behaviors (“pathogens”)
Health-Enhancing Behaviors
Diet and Obesity
– Body Mass Index (BMI)
– Weight (kgs) / Height (m)2
• 18.5-25 = normal
• 26-30 = overweight
>30 = obese
Aerobic Exercise…
• Exercise which requires 70% of maximum oxygen consumption
• Direct Benefits
– Improve fitness, muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, weight control
HEALTH ENHANCING BEHAVIOURS
Direct Benefits
◦ Improve fitness, muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility, cardio-respiratory fitness,
weight control
Recommendations for Exercise
◦ Type: Large muscle activity that is rhythmic and repetitive (e.g., walking, running, swimming,
cycling)
◦ Duration: At least 20 minutes continuously
◦ Frequency: 3 to 4 times per week
◦ Intensity: Vigorous (defined as at least 60 to 80% of maximal capacity)
HEALTH ENHANCING BEHAVIOURS
Recommendations for Exercise
◦ Every adult should accumulate 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day, or at
least on most days.
◦ Why Exercise?
EXERCISES
• Exercise is planned, structured, and repetitive bodily movement
done to improve or maintain one or more components of
physical fitness, such as endurance, flexibility, or strength.
• Physical activity is any bodily movement that is produced by the
contraction of skeletal muscles and that substantially increases
energy expenditure
BENEFITS OF EXERCISES
• Improved cardiorespiratory fitness
• Reduced cancer risk
• Improved bone mass
• Improved weight control
• Prevention of diabetes
• Improved immunity
• Improved mental health and stress management
• Longer life span
Cardiorespiratory exercise
• Aerobic exercise is any type of exercise that increases heart
rate.
• Aerobic capacity is the functional status of the cardiorespiratory
system, measured as the maximum volume of oxygen
consumed by the muscles during exercise (VO 2max).
• Graded exercise test is a test of aerobic capacity done by
gradually increasing the pace on a treadmill or bike.
Aerobic exercise
• Frequency: Vigorous exercise should be performed at least three
times per week.
• Intensity: Use your target heart rate or the rating of perceived
exertion scale.
• Target heart rate, lower = (220 – age) 0.50
• Target heart rate, upper = (220 – age) 0.70
• Duration: vigorous activities for 20 minutes; moderate for 30 minutes
HEALTH COMPROMISING BEHAVIOUR
Characteristics of Health-Compromising Behavior
Many of these behaviors share a window of vulnerability in adolescence
– Drinking to excess
– Smoking
– Illicit drug use
– Unsafe sex
– Risk-taking behaviors
SMOKING
• Smoking is the greatest single cause of preventable deaths (> 20% of all
deaths)
– Half of those who smoke throughout their life will die as a direct result of their
habit
– Half of these deaths will occur in middle age with an average of 21 years of life
lost
– The rest will occur in old age, with around 80 years lost
– Average reduction of life expectancy = 5-9 years
• …
Smoking contributes to
– Heart disease
– Cancer
– Stroke
– Influenza and pneumonia
– Chronic bronchitis
– Emphysema
– Peptic ulcers
– Respiratory disorders
– Lower birth weight in offspring
– ** May have synergistic effects (Perkins, 1985) **
Components of Cigarette Smoke
• Nicotine
– Primary addictive substance, pleasurable
– Acts directly on CNS
• Tars
– Chemicals which are carcinogenic
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
– CO reduced amount of O2 in blood and places strain on heart muscle
WHY DO PEOPLE SMOKE
• Start
– Social learning (modeling)
– Peer pressure
• 95% begin in teen years
• Know smoking is dangerous but say will stop
• Rule of thumb …
• Continue
– Genetic (?)
– Dependence (nicotine-regulation)
– Reinforcement (peers, feeling good, performance
• Quitting Smoking
• About 95% do so on their own
– Easier for light smokers, motivated, social support, persistent, self-efficacy
• Successful quitters tend to…
– Quit cold turkey
– Provide themselves with rewards
– Use positive self-statements
DRINKING
• Alcohol abuse contributes to
– Some cancers
– Motor vehicle and other accidents (users and bystanders)
– Suicide
– Cirrhosis of the liver
– Brain damage (Korsakoff’s Syndrome)
– Crime
– Poor job performance and absenteeism
– * side effects - mood and aggression *
“alcohol affects every organ in the body”
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
Slower reaction times/reflexes
Heavy sweating
Blurry vision
Nausea and vomiting
Lowered reasoning ability
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
Poor motor coordination
Slower heart rate/breathing rate
Increased blood pressure
Anxiety/restlessness
Lower inhibition
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
Mental confusion
Memory loss
Coma
Death from respiratory arrest
Sexual organs
Brain
Heart
Esophagus/stomach
What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
When mother drinks, baby drinks Alcohol disrupts
brain development…..
Your turn to research
WHO DRINKS
• About 70% of adults drink alcohol at least occasionally
– about 10% are ‘problem drinkers’ (health damage)
– About 5% are ‘alcoholic’ (alcohol dependence)
• Two vulnerable times
– Teenage years
– Late middle age
WHY DO PEOPLE DRINK
• Start
– Social learning (modeling)
– Peer pressure
• Continue
– Dependence
– Reduce social anxiety
– Tension relief
– Reinforcement
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
BEHAVIOUR
•Psychological
•Cultural
•Social/Economy
•Environmental
LIFE STYLE PROBLEMS
RESEARCH
