BEHAVIORAL-FACTORS IN THE HEALTH-STATUS OF URBAN POPULATIONS

Overwhelming evidence indicates the strong adverse health impact of se veral personal behaviors, including smoking, immoderate use of alcohol , too little physical exercise, and excessive caloric consumption. The se behaviors have arisen on a mass scale in the industrialized nations during the 20th century, thus generating the epidemics of our time. T he macrosocial environment-specifically, new (relative) affluence, tec hnological innovations, and commercialization-encourages these behavio rs. To advance health, particularly in inner cities of America; a syst ematic approach to dealing with these major forces on health-related b ehavior is necessary. Such an approach is briefly outlined.