The Lalonde report of 1974 (A New Perspective on the Health of Canadians) demonstrated the federal government’s official recognition and support of disease prevention and health promotion strategies that addressed lifestyle/behavioural and socioenvironmental risk factors.
In particular, the contribution of individual lifestyle risk factors to one’s health was emphasized, overshadowing the effects of one’s environment.
Focusing on personal responsibility for one’s health status, the report stated that “individual blame must be accepted by many for the deleterious effect on health of their effective lifestyles” (Lalonde, 1974, 26). This assumption led to the development of multiple health promotion strategies aimed at developing individuals’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent disease.