Abstract
Chronic diseases continue to be a major cause of early death and disability in developed counties. Risk factors such as lack of physical activity, poor selection of foods and smoking have been linked to higher levels of mortality and morbidity. Individual programs, whilst having a role, will not turn the trends alone. A multidiscipline population based approach is required. This wellness approach provides the bases for the presentation. Using the science that has been gathered in the areas of Health Promotion and Public Health, we will explore new directions for Sport Sciences, Physical activity, Sports Performance and Health. The integration of sport sciences, sports performance to health promotion is linear with continued feedback loop along the way. The performance of elite athletes can guide the development of physical activity program for the community similar to what the automobile industry learns from their race cars to improve the everyday car. As new discoveries occur they can be translated and dissimilated to other groups of individuals to benefit from the discovery. The improved models of individual performance are only a part of the story to change the community and reduce risk factors related to diseases. Individuals can change but it is difficult to sustain change in an environment that promotes the opposite of these goals. Therefore, for change to be sustained population based programs that address not only the individual but the social and physical environment must be developed. This will take the team approach of not only Sports Scientists and Public Health practitioners, but the community as a cohesive, interactive whole. The presentation will investigate the next generation of programs to provide sustained change to reduce disease.