title: [Health policy interventions: the pathway to public health].
abstract: Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are currently the main cause of premature death and disability in the world. Most of these NCDs are due to unhealthy lifestyle choices i.e. tobacco, unhealthy diet, lack of physical exercise and alcohol consumption. Studies have shown that health policy interventions aiming at improving diet and physical activity and reducing tobacco consumption are inexpensive, effective and cost saving. In this paper we address the political health policy interventions that have been shown to improve public health. We discuss some of the theories of behavioral economics which explain the processes involved in our every-day choices regarding lifestyle and diet.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center Landspítali University Faculty of Medicine, Univesity of Iceland IS 101 Rejkjavík, Iceland. andersen@landspitali.is
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Vilmundur
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gudnason
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D015444:Exercise; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention