ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to evaluate the relevance of lifestyle psychology to promoting healthy lifestyles. In order to do this, there are two key questions that have to be considered. First, are there any distinct relationships between lifestyle choices that could be employed to develop more effective lifestyle interventions? De Bourdeaudhuij and Van Oost (1999) have argued that if congruence in health behaviours exist then public health interventions could be made more effective, less expensive and less time consuming. Lifestyle diseases are never infl uenced in their aetiology, or their progression, by a single lifestyle behaviour, rather a number contribute to the overall risk of disease. Effecting positive changes in more than one behaviour would have greater health benefi ts than achieving a change in only one (De Bourdeaudhuij and Van Oost 1999).
