What is Healthy: Government vs. Society - Report Example

Psychology What the Society views as Healthy and What the Government Standards Say They Should Be The government in an effort to ensure it has a healthy population, has outlined certain standards to ensure the same. Despite these efforts, the society still falls short of the standards. This essay looks at the differing opinions that the society and the government have concerning what constitutes “healthy.” The ‘Healthy people 2020’ vision is used to assess the standards the government has set in this endeavour. Three journal articles are examined to explain varying opinions on what professionals, as well as the society terms as healthy. A report on health issues is also used in the analysis of this issue. Introduction Health is defined as the degree of efficiency of body functioning and metabolism. For human beings, health is a general condition that encompasses body, mind, and spirit. To be in good health has been defined by the lay-person as the absence of pain, injury or illness. The World Health Organization (WHO), however, defined health differently. In 1946, this organization termed health as a state in which an individual well-being spans through mental, physical, and social spheres. Health, according to WHO, the mere lack of disease or infirmity does not translate to health. Due to the different definitions given to health, controversy is bound to arise on what is, or is not healthy. The society has a state it considers as healthy, whereas the government will have a different opinion. The different standards defining what healthy is, are worth examining, to establish a neutral zone. Trends Physical The perception of the society on physical health is closely associated with the body outlook. The society has come up with the ideal body image that is a reflection of how healthy an individual is. This view by the society is picked up by children from an early stage. These views persist through adolescence, and into adulthood. The society, however, does not realize a healthy lifestyle, is different from the body image of a person. In an effort to maintain a certain image, people exercise more and eat less. The government has had to intervene in the dietary composition of what the people eat. The government, in deciding on the dietary needs of the population, have an objective to achieve. The objective that directs the government is providing guidelines that ensure healthy longevity of the population. The definition of health that is taken by the government is that of the WHO. The government has to deal with the prevalence of conditions such as obesity, anorexia, diabetes, liver diseases, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases among others (Philpott, 2009). The dietary requirements imposed by the government call for foods that with content that is high in fibre. The foods also need to be low in fat, sugar, and salt content. The government also calls for increased levels of physical activity in schools, home, and work. Looking at the situation from both angles, it is worth noting that maintenance of physical health is regarded almost similarly by both society and government. The standards are also related, though some people take it to the extremes. Exercise is highly valued by both parties, even though there are some people who take it to the extreme. Most members of the society, however, do not carefully consider the dietary value of the foods they eat. Supplements have become the norm in the society, as people regularly snack due to the fast pace of life. Mental The stress factor in the society has been on a constant rise as modernization takes root. People often find that they have more work to do, and little time to cater to their emotional needs. The society has also increasingly become aware that a society that invests in health is by extension investing in its future (Kickbusch, 2008). This has caused a rise in the number of people consulting therapists, psychologists, and other such professionals. The government has not been left behind in catering to this aspect of health. Learning institutions are supplied with teachers who are trained in guidance and counselling. If the learners’ issues are dealt with from an early age, then there will be reduced internal conflicts in the young members of the society. Conflict that is left unresolved in early stages of life normally manifests in later life. The influence of past unresolved conflicts is revealed in the social, personal, and intellectual life of an individual as they advance in age. In my view, both the society, and government hold high regard for mental health. Even well-known individuals in the society do not shy away from consulting health practitioners who specialize in the same. Parents seek help form professional counsellors for their children ensuring that internal and external conflicts are properly addressed. The intervention of both government and society in ensuring sound mental health has helped in creating a sound society. Coping skills are taught, and developed; with the results being translated to the overall well being of the population. Social Within any society, there emerges a way of life that its people perceive as the usual and “healthy” way of living. The social life of an individual can be further divided into economic, religious, and political lives. These are social institutions that the society uses to describe a person. An individual also defines themselves according to the constructs on these institutions. The Western society places high value on the work a person undertakes. Particular value is accorded to work, and other productive goal-oriented activities that a person engages in (Kantartzis & Molineux, 2011). Other than contributing to the building of the society, such activities are a vital component of self-identity. The society and government hold different views on these institutions that mould a person. In the society today, the occupation of an individual contributes to the construction, and expression of self-identity. Occupation in this light then becomes a constructed concept that reflects how the society understands the principle of a “healthy” life. In the view of the society, a healthy person is one who is institutionalized to a level that they fit in with the rest of the members. Such a person will have an occupation that caters to the financial needs of the family. Most of the people, however, will use the occupation to define themselves. Persons go into occupations that they do not appreciate only because it provides a financial cushion. Such persons will have insurmountable debts that push them to work harder, to sustain their livelihoods. The government understands that risk factors that contribute to disease development are preventable in the first place. It is in line with this that the government is constantly advocating for the improvement of working conditions. It is not enough that people work to earn means of living. The occupations that people participate in should lead to overall improvement of the individual. If this is followed, the occupation will develop the workers as well as the society. The government advocates for reduction of stressors in the work environment. In their place, motivators are encouraged to develop a working population that is healthy (Kantartzis & Molineux, 2011). In this issue, I am of the opinion that the standards of the government are more favourable that those of the society. If societal standards are followed, a person only works to earn a living. Though the profession or job may do little for personal development, the person will stay at it. The government, however, appreciates that development of individuals is necessary in the pursuit of an occupation. If this is followed, preventable conditions will be eliminated. As a result, individuals will be able to attain their full potential in terms of health (Healthy People, 2010). Relevance Understanding the views of both the society and government on what is healthy is necessary for the improvement of societal well-being. By understanding the perceptions that the society has on what they consider healthy, strategies can be formulated to educate the members. It will be an effort that is futile to try change people without understanding the dynamics that operate in the society. The trends also facilitate understanding of the society and presenting them with alternatives. Strategy is vital thus if the society responds to celebrities, the government would have success in their intervention by using the same. Societal Implications The government has repeatedly called for the inclusion of all the five healthy food groups during meals. The outlined requirements are supported with evidence for the benefit of consumers. The society, however, has other forces that influence choice of food. There are sweetened drinks that are labelled as having certain nutrients, and marketed as such (Evans, Greenwood, Thomas, & D.Cade, 2010). Due to the power of the media over the choices people make members of the society make food choices that are not beneficial to their health. This brings to light the need for the society to be educated in their choice of food intake. With proper education on the needs of the society, the members will be in a position to make food choices that are well informed. Values that are held in the society are carried down from one generation to the next. If the society has proper knowledge on the dietary requirements advocated by the government, they can pass on the same to the younger generations. A society that is healthy is one that is wealthy. This happens because the resources will be channelled to other development projects that will benefit all the concerned parties. References Evans, C. E., Greenwood, D. C., Thomas, J. D., & D.Cade, J. (2010). A Cross-sectional Survey of Chldrens Packed Lunches in the U.K: Food- and Nutrient-based Results. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 977 - 983. Healthy People. (2010, December 2). About Healthy People. Retrieved from HealthyPeople2020: http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/default.aspx Kantartzis, S., & Molineux, M. (2011). The Influence of Western Societys Construction of a Healthy daily Life on the Conceptualization of Occupation. Journal of Occupational Science, 62 - 80. Kickbusch, I. (2008). Healthy Societies: Addressing 21st Century Health Challenges. Adelaide: Crown. Philpott, J. (2009). How Healthy are Government Dietary Guidelines? The Nutrition Practitioner, 14 - 35. Read More