Is the term 'lifestyle' appropriate to use in health promotion today?
OBJECTIVE
The term 'lifestyle' has become popularised and is used across a variety of fields. This has diminished its currency in the health field somewhat. The term is also used to describe behaviour change and does not include social and environmental influences on health status. Many health professionals now question whether this term is appropriate to use in health promotion today.


METHODS
A Google search on the world wide web produced 855,000 hits. A search for 'health lifestyle' in Australia alone yielded 23,000 hits.


RESULTS
The Google search led to a variety of national and international reports related to lifestyle and healthy lifestyle as well as marketing reports such as the Australian Lifestyle Survey. The search helped to clarify the history of the term and its current use in health and other fields.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no doubt the term 'lifestyle' has become popularised and is used to market everything from pets to health to pay TV. If the health field is to continue to use this term it needs to be prefixed with the word 'healthy'. However, it may be even more important for health professionals to be clear and consistent about what a 'healthy lifestyle' involves.
Jackiewicz
Stephanie
S
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Western Australia. stephanie@ichr.uwa.edu.au
James
Ray
R
Campbell
Cathy
C
D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D040541:Marketing