Personal actions &

interactions cognitions &

emotions

Healthy Lifestyles Health

Environmental factors
Engaging in regular PA
Physical, social, cultural,
Eating well Wellness spiritual, worksite, other
Managing Stress

Avoiding destructive habits

Practicing safe sex

Managing time
Physical
Being an informed consumer Fitness Health-care systems

Adopting good health habits Access

Adopting good safety habits Compliance

Learning first aid

Heredity

Age

Disability

Determinants of health, fitness and wellness

Factors that contribute to health, wellness and fitness. Central to the model are HEALTH, WELLNESS and
FITNESS because these are the states of being that each of us wants to achieve. Around the periphery are
the factors that influence these states of being. (HEREDITY, AGE and DISABILITY) are the factors over which
you have the least control. (HEALTH CARE and ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS) are factors over which you
have some control. (HEALTHY LIFESTYLES and PERSONAL ACTIONS/INTERACTIONS, COGNITIONS and
EMOTIONS) are the factors over which you have GREATER control.

Heredity (human biology) is a factor over which we have little control. Heredity influences each part of
health-related physical fitness, including our tendencies to build muscle and to deposit body fat. Each of
us can limit the effects of heredity by being aware of our personal of our personal family history and by
making efforts to best manage those factors over which we do have control.

Age is a factor over which we have no control. The major health and wellness concerns of older adults
include losing health, losing the ability to care for oneself, losing mental abilities, running out of money,
being a burden to family, and being alone. Chronic pain is also a major problem among older adults. Age
is a factor that you cannot control. However, healthy lifestyles can reduce the effects of aging on health,
wellness and fitness.

Disabilities can affect, but they do not necessarily limit, health, wellness and fitness. Disabilities typically
result from factors beyond control. All people have a limitation of one kind or another. Societal efforts to
help all people function within their limitations can help everyone, including people with disabilities, have
appositive outlook on life and experience a high quality of life.

The health-care system affects our ability to overcome illness and improve our quality of life. The quality
of life for those who are sick and those who tend to be sick is influenced greatly by the type of medical
care they receive. Health care is not equally available to all. A study by the Institute of Medicine, entitled
“Insuring America’s Health”, indicates that 18,000 people die unnecessarily in the US each year because
they lack health insurance. Those w/o health insurance are more likely to go to but less likely to be
admitted to emergency rooms and are less likely to get high-quality medical care than those w/ insurance.
Many of those w/o insurances have chronic conditions that go undetected and as a result become
untreatable. One of the great health inequities is that those w/ lower income are less likely to be insured.
Many people fail to seek medical help even though care is accessible. Others seek medical help but fail to
comply w/ medical advice. Men are less likely to seek medical advice than women.

The environment is a major factor affecting health, wellness, and fitness. It includes choice of living, and
work location, as well as the socio-spiritual, and intellectual environments.

Personal actions, interactions, cognitions and emotions all have effect on health, wellness and fitness. You
can use your cognitive abilities to learn about your family history and use that information to limit the
negative influences of heredity. You can learn how to adapt to disabilities and personal limitations, as well
as to the aging process. You can research the health-care system and the environment to minimize the
problems associated with them. Your personal interactions also influence your health, wellness and
fitness. You have a choice about the environment in which you place yourself and the people with whom
you interact in these environments. Humans could think (cognitions) and to use critical thinking to make
choices and to determine the actions they take and the interactions they engage in. Emotions also affect
personal actions and interactions.
THREE PRIORITY LIFESTYLES

1. Engaging in regular physical activity

2. Eating well
3. Managing Stress

REASONS FOR PLACING PRIORITY ON THESE LIFESTYLES

1. They affect the lives of all people

2. They are lifestyles in which large numbers of people can make improvement
3. Modest changes in these behaviors can make dramatic improvements in individual and public
health.

Statistics suggest that modest changes in physical activity patterns and nutrition can prevent more
than 400,000 deaths annually. Stress also has a major impact on drug, alcohol and smoking
behavior, so managing stress can help individuals minimize or avoid those behaviors.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY – used to describe all forms of large muscle movements, including sports, dance,
games, work, lifestyle activities, and exercise for fitness.

EXERCISE – physical activity done for getting physical fit.

The HELP PHILOSOPHY

HEALTH is available to EVERYONE for a LIFETIME – and it’s PERSONAL

HEALTH- One theory that has been extensively tested indicates that people who believe in the benefits of
healthy lifestyles are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors. The theory also suggests that people
who state intentions to put their beliefs into action are likely to adopt behaviors that lead to health,
wellness and fitness.

EVERYONE – Anyone can change a behavior or lifestyle means that you are included. Nevertheless, many
adults feel ineffective in making lifestyle changes. Physical activity is not just for athletes – it is for all
people. Eating well is not just for other people – you can do it too. All people can learn stress-management
techniques. Everyone can practice healthy lifestyles.

LIFETIME – Young people sometimes feel immoral because the harmful effects of unhealthy lifestyles are
often not immediate. As we grow older, we begin to realize that we are not immortal and that unhealthy
lifestyles have cumulative negative effects. Starting early in life to emphasize healthy behaviors results in
long term health, wellness and fitness benefits.

PERSONAL – No two people are exactly alike. Just as no single pill cures all illnesses, no single lifestyle
prescription exists for good health, wellness and fitness. Each person must assess personal needs and
make lifestyle changes based on those needs.

SELF – ASSESSMENTS OF LIFESTYLES will help you determine areas in which you may need changes to
promote optimal health, wellness and fitness.
Physical Education Defined (Andin, 1998) is an integral part of the educational program designed to
promote the optimum development of the individual physically, socially, emotionally and mentally
through total body movement in the performance of properly selected physical activities.

Physical Fitness (Hoeger, 2014) the ability to meet the ordinary, as well as unusual, demands of daily life
safely and effectively without being overly fatigued and still have energy left for leisure and recreational
activities.

Health-related fitness (Hoeger, 2014) Fitness programs prescribed to improve the individual’s overall
health.

Skill-related fitness (Hoeger, 2014) Fitness components important for success in skilful activities and
athletic events, encompasses agility, balance, coordination, reaction time, speed and power.

Cardio-respiratory endurance (Hoeger, 2014) the ability of the lungs, heart, and blood vessels to deliver
adequate amounts of oxygen to the cells to meet the demands of prolonged physical activity.