We will continue the trend of living longer, healthier lives. Unlike earlier generations, the majority of deaths now are brought about by chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The causes of these chronic diseases, says Professor David French, are largely owing to behavioural factors. The major improvements in public health will therefore, he argues, be by changes in lifestyle behaviours.

David French is Professor of Health Psychology in the School of Health and Life Sciences at Coventry University. His major research areas are in the development and evaluation of interventions to change health-related behaviours, especially walking. He’s also interested in the communication of risk, especially the cognitive, emotional and behavioural effects of screening programmes.