The individual lifestlyle approach came about in the early 70's, when the incidence of lifestyle diseases began to increase. This approach saw health as being the sole responsibility of the individual and thus health promotion was aimed at seeing behavioual changes in each individual. It believed knowledge was the key to health, which was very narrow view point. Besides, most people know what their unhealthy behaviours are doing to them, but don't care. eg smokers, consumers of high fat diets etc. This approach doesn't address the reasons for people adopting unhealthy behaviours and failed.
The New Public Health appproach on the other hand recognises the role of outside forces on the individual. eg living conditions, socioeconomic status and enviromental factors. It has developed over the last twenty years and focuses on creating oppotunities for people to engage in healthy behaviour, through policies, programs and other services. The main characterists of this approach are:
*empowerment of individuals
*Community participation
*Recognising the social determinants for health
Initiatives which have stemed from the new public health approach are the Ottawa Charter (1986) and the jackarta declaration (1996)