The Social and Ecological Determinants of Health

David Somekh and Caroline Whyte speak with Professor Lindsay McLaren, who is a Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary, Canada, where her research and teaching focus on the social determinants and political economy of health. Topics covered included the fact that good health actually has far less to do with health behaviours which are conceptualised as chosen by people, such as diet and lifestyle, than is commonly assumed. A more systemic approach to health recognises that decent housing, education, labour rights and environmental protection are fundamental to health - and that this links in closely with the concept of the Wellbeing Economy.