Examination of the "Vitality Approach", health model proposed by the Canadian government

Throughout recent decades, a number of health models and approaches have emerged, aiming to help individuals to live a healthier life. models like the Vitality Approach, have attempting to provide a theoretical approach that cover a wide range of health and fitness aspects, including diet (Health Canada, 2000). The Vitality plan has been designed to be used by health practitioners in their patients, providing them with effective ways to maintain a healthy life.

This report will describe how I used the Vitality approach to coach a number of individuals on how to live a better, happier and healthier life. The Vitality approach focuses on three different aspect of health and fitness (ibid): Diet, Exercise, and Self-Image. Healthy dieting is essential to prevent a high number of diseases, including heart attack, diabetes and stroke. Healthy eating can enable individuals to adequately monitor their body weight, which is an essential factor in successfully regulating their overall health. Unlike other approaches, that focused achieving weight loss at all costs, using a number of methods, like the reduction of calories consumed. The Vitality approach diet program suggests a wide range of menus and an integrated exercise plan.

[...] During my time coaching individuals on the Vitality Approach, I used the basis of the approach to encourage people to adopt a more balanced diet. I suggested them a diet that avoiding food products with a high intake of saturated fat, like tropical oils and butter, as these products can significantly increase the body’s blood cholesterol levels, which in turn can increase the risk of experiencing a number of illnesses, including heart disease (www.fauxpress.com/kimball/med/heart). In the diet I proposed to the people I coached I also avoided to include food products containing high levels of simple carbohydrates, like cakes, as they can cause a number of health disorders, that can be ultimately fatal, like hypoglycaemia. [...]

[...] These cost- effective methods can help individual to feel better, by eliminating unhealthy habits and helping to overcome psychological problems like phobias, fears, anxiety or depression. These are the main ideas that I attempted to provide to the individuals I coached. The Vitality approach is about eating and living better, in order to feel better, and the change in attitude that it proposes can help people to see things in a much clearer and healthier way. BIBLIOGRAPHY Health Canada (2000) “The Vitality Approach”. Ottawa, Ontario: Health Canada. Miller, T. What Are the Benefits of Healthful Eating for the Diabetic? http://www.livestrong.com/article/267581-what-are-the-benefits-of-healthful- eating-for-the-diabetic/ Moss, R. W. [...]