1. Factors that Influence Wellness
Nutrition for Healthy Living 120

2. Factors that Influence Wellness
Health Habits
Heredity/Family History
Environment
Access to Health Care
Attitude
Media/Technology

3. Health Habits Daily health choices and behaviors.
Health Habits have been linked to the level of health we have.
Example: heart disease is related to smoking, stress, attitude, diet, and sedentary lifestyle.
What other health habits can you think of that influence your health?

4. Heredity/Family History
The genetics that are passed down from your blood relatives.
Genome: the complete set of genetic material in an individual’s cells.
Gene: the basic unit of heredity; a section of genetic material containing chemical instructions for making a particular protein.
Plays a part in conditions like: sickle-cell, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes

5. Environment
Physical Environment: Consists of the conditions in the home, workplace, community, school, etc.
The things that you are exposed to
Air
Radiation (sun, radon, etc)
Water
Sounds
Crime
Availability of parks & recreational

6. Environments
Social Environment -Peers: people of the same age who share similar interests. Example: what do you eat when you hang around friends? What activities do you do?
Culture -the collective beliefs, customs, and behaviors of a group Example: some cultures have different diets, behaviors, genetics, etc.

7. Access to Health Care
Having adequate health care helps to improve both quality and quantity of life through preventive care and the treatment of disease.
Vaccinations, screenings, early treatment

8. Attitude
The way you view a situation -Do you believe that a change will have an impact?
Optimists: Those who see the glass half full or look for the positives in life.
Pessimism: those who look to the negative side of things.
How do you think you attitude effects your health?

9. Media and Technology
Media: carious methods for communicating information. -Which are delivered through technology: TV, internet, newspaper, radio, other?
How can the media help or hinder your health? -celebrates -internet resources -television
What are some examples that you have seen good and bad in these areas.

10. How Do You Achieve Wellness?
Get Serious About Your Health
Examine Your Current Health Habits
Choose A Target Behavior
Obtain Information About Your Target Behavior
Find Outside Help
Building Motivation for Change
Examining the Pros and Cons of Change
Building Self-Efficacy