"Lifestyle and Mental Health," which you can read by clicking here, is a profound and comprehensive analysis that is long overdue.
"Therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLCs) are sometimes as effective as either psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy and can offer significant therapeutic advantages," according to Roger Walsh, M.D., Ph.D., in a paper originally published in American Psychologist (1/17/2011). He specifically looks at the positive impact of TLCs such as exercise, nutrition and diet, time in nature, relationships, recreation, relaxation and stress management, religious or spiritual involvement, and service to others.
Dr. Walsh's research and recommendations support much of what we are basing our work on here—particularly the "Be Active America" component— though I would like to see an analysis of family systems distress patterns and the role of peer counseling included in his assessment. But those are quibbles about a paper that I find to be as close to the target as any article I've ever read.
This comprehensive analysis of the role of various psycho/social factors in health promotion/disease prevention brings new urgency to college and university training programs and to professional leaders in general. The message is simple: Hypokinetic disease is a symptom of social and family systems factors and not just aerobic points and oxygen update, strength and flexibility. Hopefully, our illustrious leaders at CDC, NIH, and HHS will consider including material on this nature in their "Goals for the Nation." With more than 160 scientific references, this paper is a gold mine for NRPA. It will be interesting to see if they jump on it.