Promoting healthy lifestyles

Dissemination of such information can take a number of creative forms, as demonstrated by the effective use of radio drama and folk theatre in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

A US study, published in 2001, analysed nearly 30 years of health data on more than 2,600 individuals in Alemeda County in California. Those people who reported attending weekly religious services in 1965 were more likely to both improve poor health behaviours and maintain good ones by 1994 than those whose attendance was less or none. Weekly attendance was associated with improving and maintaining mental health, fostering social relationships and marital stability. Individuals who regularly attended religious services were also more likely to become more physically active, quit smoking, and become less depressed.