| Jennifer Baumgartner, Ph.D.
March 26, 2024 Complex and widespread public health issues such as obesity, loneliness, climate change, and health disparities require we consider a whole person orientation that looks at interactions among biological, behavioral, social, and environmental factors across individuals, families, communities, and populations. This is central to theNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) Strategic Plan. To impact the whole person, interventions may need to move beyond intervening on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals to intervene on upstream determinants that drive health and health inequities. For example, upstream determinants such as access to effective and affordable health care, supportive social networks, and safe, walkable neighborhoods have a significant influence on public health and well-being. |
