An Individual's Role in Living a Healthy Lifestyle

My literature review examines the broader question of who is responsible for health to better tackle the issues faced at the intersection of food justice and maternal health. Because individuals are independent to make their own lifestyle choices, they are often first held responsible for the actions they make. However, others have realized that individuals cannot fully be blamed for some lifestyle choices that are made. Betancourt and Quinland found that the negative effect of social factors on people's health is especially pronounced among minority. Some people have harder times following through with given treatment plans because those plans are not always feasible options. Though they are advised to eat healthier, they may not have such foods available or affordable within their community. People's condition of housing, socioeconomic status, education level, and healthfulness of physical environment are not lifestyle choices that individuals always get to make (Betancourt and Quinland, 2007). My literature review then explores the role that the government, private sector, and civil society organizations play in health promotion and the different debates surrounding them.

Betancourt, Joseph R. and Joan Quinlan. (2007). “Personal Responsibility Versus    Responsible Options: Health Care, Community Health Promotion, and the Battle Against Chronic Disease.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 4(3), 1-3.