Health Promotion in America part one: How and Why it Was Started

Welcome to a very special mini-series on the podcast with my graduate school, American University! I graduated from AU in 2017 with my MS in Health Promotion Management after completing my BS in Exercise Science from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013. Health Promotion is the science and art of helping people, organizations, and communities change lifestyle behaviors to move toward a state of improved health resulting in decreases in chronic disease and health care costs. To accomplish this objective, we must learn the science of health through the study of nutrition, biology, anatomy and physiology, and psychology combined with program planning for health promotion by learning how to assess, implement, and evaluate programs that effectively achieve the outcome of improved health. Health promotion helps answer problems around: Establishing and managing wellness programs for employees and their families Developing effective media campaigns for emerging health issues Helping clients achieve fitness and nutrition goals Researching health policy and establishing state and national programs Integrating health promotion and disease management activities into the healthcare system Instituting innovative community-outreach programs Advocating for health issues and promoting wellness in communities