Our health can be affected by many things besides disease. The environment we live in, the job we do, the food we eat, the lifestyle we live. We no longer measure ‘health’ just in terms of death and disease, but also in connection with quality of life.
EHPs who work to protect and promote better public health operate in a wide range of partnerships with other professionals. They work alongside doctors, health visitors, and dieticians. They participate in local and national initiatives to improve awareness and understanding. And their efforts are focused on both individuals and communities.
There is currently much attention focused on the subject of obesity, often described as a ‘time bomb’ for today’s growing generation. Educationalists, nutritionists, the food industry, advertisers, retailers, government advisers and medical providers all have roles to play in addressing this critical issue. Public health EHPs are right in the middle of the loop, contributing to the debate and implementing new initiatives out there on the front line.
Ironically, in an age when we have more and better food, fantastic medical knowledge, amazing technology and longer life expectancy that ever before, public health is right at the top of the environmental health agenda