Your lifestyle-how you live, eat, emote, and think-determines your health. To prevent disease, you may have to change how you live.
-Brian Carter

Many people are aware of the health risks posed by the behaviors and habits of their daily lives, but continue to engage in those behaviors and habits, regardless of the risks. Most of us understand the importance of maintaining a balanced diet and exercising regularly, and yet unhealthy foods and fast food restaurants are still in high demand. Avoiding and changing modifiable risk factors of disease involves more than just awareness to potential health problems, it requires motivation and action.

In this Discussion, you consider the psychosocial, behavioral, and cultural elements that promote adherence to modifiable risk factors. You recommend strategies and measures for individuals who want to avoid or change behaviors that put them at increased risk for disease.

To prepare for this Discussion,

Select two of the following modifiable risk factors of disease:
Smoking
Alcohol use
Unsafe sexual practices
Inadequate sleep

Inadequate physical activity or sedentary lifestyle

High intake of one of the following: caffeine, sugar, cholesterol, salt, trans-fatty acids

Low intake of one of the following: omega-3 fatty acids, fruits and vegetables, polyunsaturated fatty acids

Identify diseases or health problems that can result from the factors you selected.

Review the Learning Resources that address health-related behaviors. Consider the psychosocial, behavioral, and cultural influences that perpetuate the risk factors you selected.

Consider recommendations you would make to individuals trying to change their behavior related to the factors you selected.

Post a description of the two modifiable risk factors you selected and the diseases or health problems related to those factors. Then, for each of the two factors you selected, identify at least two psychosocial, behavioral, and/or cultural influences that may perpetuate the risk factors you selected. Finally, describe measures you would recommend for individuals trying to change or avoid behaviors related to the factors you selected.