Both these documents operationalized prevention in terms of eliminating behaviors that increase disease risk. We would be terribly remiss if we did not seize the opportunity presented by health promotion and disease prevention to dramatically cut health-care costs, to prevent the premature onset of disease and disability, and to help all Americans achieve healthier, more productive lives. In spite of extensive recognition of the need for more prevention, governmental funding has not increased significantly in this area. It is possible that more funding for health promotion and disease prevention research and interventions in the United States would yield significant improvements in health and well-being that would simultaneously reduce national medical expenditures. Government and private organizations attempt to promote health and prevent disease mainly by disseminating information on lifestyle improvement.
Most people find it difficult to change their behavior.
For example, there have been numerous smoking cessation campaigns in the U.S., and consequently, almost all adult smokers in the country know that their habit increases the likelihood of their dying prematurely from lung cancer, coronary heart disease, or other diseases. People are reluctant to alter patterns that represent powerful, predictable, and immediate sources of gratification which are deeply ingrained in social and cultural contexts. One possible impediment may be the lack of a comprehensive national health policy and the mixed messages the public receives about the health risks of certain substances. These inconsistencies may reinforce the ambivalence and resistance to change among many people. Furthermore, there is an apparent lack of real commitment to the concept of healthier living.