Topic 1 Introduction

Today, the political strategies rely on that societal and individuals themselves should adopt and adhere to the recommendations of a healthy lifestyle. In order to fight weight gain among the population, interventions should be targeted towards social structures, in arenas that reach everyone, regardless of socio-economic status, preferably as early in life as possible. No singular approach can make public health professionals convince people to take actions that can keep them healthy. However, Public Health programs that address disease prevention and Health Promotion find Health Communication crucial, as it can improve the health of individuals, in communities, and ultimately in the whole society. Through the last 25 years, Health Communication has also developed into a vibrant, productive and diverse field of research. Health Communication has a central role in health services, as well as in Health Promotion and Public Health interventions. This unit will cover the Public Health and Health Promotion part and present the most relevant theories, models and strategies for Health Communication.