Healthy Living

Helpful “healthy living” definitions

The following are explanations of terms related to healthy living that are used on this website. These explanations are meant to be guidelines only and are not formal definitions. Where applicable, sources appear in brackets at the end of the glossary explanations.

active living - The implementation into daily life of the physical activity needed to optimize health (Canadian Journal of Public Health).

best practices - Interventions, programs/services, strategies, or policies which have demonstrated desired changes through the use of appropriate, well-documented research or evaluation methodologies. They can be replicated, and have the potential to be adapted and transferred. A best practice is one that is most suitable given the available evidence and particular situation or context. In the context of population health/health promotion, such practices are used to demonstrate what works for enhancing the health status and health-related outcomes of individuals and communities, and to accumulate and apply knowledge about how and why they work in different situations and contexts. Click here to link to the Canadian Best Practices Portal for Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention and Control.

collaborative action - More than one individual or group working together to reach an agreed-upon goal.

community development - Helping communities take control over their health, social and economic issues by using and building on their existing strengths. This principle recognizes that some communities have fewer resources than others, and supports these communities. Networks, ongoing funding and efficient infrastructures help to sustain community action.

determinants of health - The range of personal, social, economic and environmental factors that determine the health status of individuals or populations (WHO, Health Promotion Glossary, 1998). These can include genetic make-up, age, lifestyle choices, social and economic influences, social status, where one lives and how Canadian society is structured (The Chief Public Health Officer’s Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2008).

exercise - A form of leisure-time physical activity that is usually performed on a repeated basis over an extended period of time (exercise training) with a specific external objective such as the improvement of fitness, physical performance or health (Canadian Journal of Public Health).

healthy eating - Canada’s Food Guide describes a healthy eating pattern that meets the body’s nutrient needs, reduces the risk of chronic diseases and contributes to overall health and vitality. Healthy eating is fundamental to good health and a key element in healthy human development, from the prenatal and early childhood years to later life stages. Canadians who are looking for practical advice on healthy eating are encouraged to follow the recommendations in Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide.

healthy living - At a population level, healthy living refers to the practices of population groups that are consistent with supporting, improving, maintaining and/or enhancing health. As it applies to individuals, healthy living is the practice of health enhancing behaviours, or put simply, living in healthy ways. It implies the physical, mental and spiritual capacity to make healthy choices. The Integrated Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy focuses on healthy eating, physical activity and their relationship to healthy weights.

healthy living framework - A conceptual basis for action over time that includes a vision, goals, guiding principles and strategic directions for action on healthy living.

healthy weights - The weight classification system currently used in Canada is the Canadian Guidelines for Body Weight Classification in Adults. The guidelines describe a body weight classification system used to identify health risks associated with body weight in individuals and in populations. They are aligned with the World Health Organization's recommendations widely adopted internationally.

The system uses two measures to indicate health risks: the body mass index (BMI) and the waist circumference. BMI is an indicator of health risk associated with underweight and overweight, and waist circumference is used as an indicator of health risk associated with abdominal obesity.

The system applies only to Canadians age 18 years and over. It is not intended for use with women who are pregnant or lactating.

integration - Cooperative efforts to promote healthy living by addressing individual issues together (e.g., healthy eating, physical activity and their relationship to healthy weights). An integrated approach in policy development, research and programming can lead to greater health improvements and a more effective use of resources. As part of the Healthy Living Strategy, an integrated approach may target common risk factors for chronic diseases, consolidate efforts within specific settings, and engage partners from various jurisdictions and sectors.

intersectoral - Working with more than one sector of society to take action on an area of shared interest. Sectors may include government departments such as health, education, environment and justice; ordinary citizens; non-profit societies or organizations; academia; and business.

knowledge development and transfer - A continuum of activities that includes:

• gathering knowledge, including research, surveillance and reviews of best practices;
• analyzing and synthesizing knowledge; and
  
• making knowledge available to people who can use it, in forms that are most useful to them.

This process encourages decision-making that is based on the best available evidence.

policy development - In the context of healthy living, the main goal of public policy is to create supportive environments that enable people to lead healthy lives. Such policies make healthy choices the easy choices. All levels of government and all sectors (e.g., health, agriculture, transportation, education, environment and others) have a role in the development of healthy public policy.

partnership - A voluntary agreement between two or more partners to work cooperatively toward a common goal. Partnerships are a mechanism for putting integration into practice. They generally require an investment of time and resources over the long term. Creating conditions for healthy living is the shared responsibility of all sectors (e.g. health, environment, education, recreation, agriculture, etc.) and requires partnerships between governments at all levels, the private sector, the not-for-profit sector, families, schools, workplaces, communities, and Aboriginal organizations.

physical activity - Any body movement produced by the skeletal muscles that results in a substantial increase over resting energy expenditure. This includes physically active leisure pursuits, exercise, sport, work that requires physical exertion, chores in and around the home, and other movements that increase the individual’s total energy expenditure. Physical activities can focus on endurance, flexibility or strength (Canadian Journal of Public Health).

population health - A population health approach focuses on the underlying and interrelated conditions that influence the health of populations over the life course. These include factors such as education, income, early childhood experiences, and the social and physical environments that surround individuals and groups. By addressing these factors, a population health approach aims to reach beyond the limited effectiveness of lifestyle-based interventions and reduce disparities in health outcomes.

public information - An essential component of health communications, which is concerned with fostering the motivation, skills and confidence people and communities need to improve health. It includes information about the underlying conditions that affect health, as well as individual risk factors and risk behaviours, and use of the health care system. Health communication programming can put health on the public agenda, reinforce health messages, stimulate people to seek further information, and in some instances, bring about sustained healthy lifestyles.

recreation - All those things that a person or group chooses to do in order to make their leisure time more interesting, more enjoyable and more personally satisfying (National Recreation Statement, 1987).

risk factors - Social, economic or biological status, behaviours or environments which are associated with or cause increased susceptibility to a specific disease, ill health or injury (WHO, Health Promotion Glossary, 1998).

sectors - Different parts of society (e.g. health, environment, education, recreation, agriculture, private sector, not-for-profit sector) that all have a role to play in healthy living.

sport - A regulated form of physical activity organized as a contest between two or more participants for the purpose of determining a winner by fair and ethical means. Such contest may be in the form of a game, match, race, or other form of competitive event (Sport Canada).