It is true that the medical model has traditionally concentrated on treating diseases rather than on prevention and promoting lifestyle changes, leaving a gap that could be filled by focusing more on lifestyle interventions to prevent noninfectious diseases.
True or False? Prevention and lifestyle behavior changes to promote health are not major foci of the medical model. The statement is true. The traditional medical model has primarily emphasized the diagnosis and treatment of diseases rather than the prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyle changes. This model is often reactive, dealing with health issues after they have manifested rather than proactively working to prevent them.
An estimated 80 percent of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes, as well as 40 percent of cancer cases, could be avoided through lifestyle changes like diet and exercise or by avoiding risky behaviors such as tobacco use. Laws that tax tobacco products and curb smoking in public places have greatly contributed to decreasing the prevalence of smoking, which is a significant risk factor for lung cancer.
So, shifting focus towards prevention and lifestyle changes could greatly reduce the burden of noninfectious diseases on individuals and healthcare systems alike.