Law and health promotion with particular reference to lifestyles

The origins, aims, methods, conclusions and recommendations of a study investigating the extent to which legislative measures can influence the development of health-promoting lifestyles are given in outline. The study was prepared at the request of the WHO Office for Europe. The full study is published under the title “Law and health promotion: A comparative research study in Europe” by the Institute for Health Education German Hygiene Museum, Dresden, GDR. The main source of reference for this study has been the reports of the health ministries of 19 European countries. The focal points were: the essential features of a country's concept for the development of lifestyles conducive to health; the methodological and organizational basis of a country's health legislation; the principles behind legislation on health-conducive lifestyles; the specific legislative measures on health education; the enforcement of the law and public participation; scientific studies of health legislation in the respective countries. In conclusion, there is general agreement that since health legislation is of great importance to the development of healthy lifestyles. There is further agreement on how the law achieves its effects, and recognition that it needs the support of other forms of legislation. The possibility of co-operation within the framework of WHO is presented. The need to safeguard the relationship between the law and the freedom to choose one's lifestyle is discussed. Attention must be paid to the conceptual basis needed to determine the effectiveness of legislation and to the results of research. The report presents four points for future research.

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