The life course health development model: a new approach to understanding human health.

Abstract

The life course health development (LCHD) model is a cutting-edge theoretical model for the health science, which moves beyond the previous biomedical and biopsychosocial model. From the perspectives of "process, relationship and system", it recognizes health as a dynamic ability to change over the course of life, and highlights the importance of optimizing individual health trajectories and health promotion. According to LCHD model, we should understand health from the perspective of development, which is characterized by unfolding, complexity, timing, plasticity, thriving and harmony. Health research and practice, therefore, should change ideas from the focus on accurate diagnosis, treatment and etiology previously to full using the relative plasticity of human development to enhance health development ability, enrich health resources and promote the healthy development of physiology, psychology, behavior and culture system; and to achieve a harmonious balance in the different stages of the life course. Based on the LCHD model, it is suggested for our country's health service system (1) to strengthen the health education across the life-span and construct the health promotion model based on the social system; (2) to pay more attention to health promotion and disease prevention in early life; (3) to increase government spending on health promotion and prevention, not just on disease treatment.