Beginning in the 1950s, epidemiological data revealed the link between multiple causative factors related to lifestyle (e.g. tobacco use, excess alcohol consumption, high-fat diets, lack of physical activity) and the incidence of major non-infectious diseases (Hyndman, 1997).
These health risk factors were considered a matter of personal choice, and under the control of individuals.
Emphasis was placed on health promotion activities directed towards promoting healthy individual lifestyles and reducing health risks (Tones, 1986; Raeburn and Rootman, 1989).