Preventative health

[Ranj]

Today in society we focus so much on our weight and are constantly being bombarded with health messages on eating well and keeping fit.

So then why, do so many people who have a junk food diet, barely exercise and have an unhealthy BMI, continue to be like this? Regardless, even someone who has a good BMI but eats badly and doesn’t exercise why? So many diseases can be prevented or the onset or severity of them can be reduced simply by our lifestyle choices, granted genes play a part but environment certainly does too. So then why do people not change anything?

It just amazes me, because it’s like committing a slow suicide.

[shelim]

indeed it is definately commiting a slow suicide, i think people who have lived a couch potato life since a young age, find it easier than a person who is very active and some my even go to the extent and say i can be bothered..

i've even heard people say "its my life, let me do what i want to do".. and while knowing the risks they put themselves into they still carry on with that specific sedentary lifestyle and diet...

the people i have seen that get off their backsides are te ones who have put themselves in the positions where they are finding everyday things tougher to do now... a friend of mine was a great runner, and got a tad too lazy, started eating rubbish and developed a belly... no more running for him... till he realised it was a nuisance as doing sports was an issue, having to adapt to a whole new size of clothes and realised tha he couldnt live like that anymore..

so glad to say he's on his recovery through lots of cario exercise now and a tiny little weight raining...

[Guji-Ji]

Laziness... I'm not that healthy and I do want to change but it's hard especially when you ain't done anything for so long.. and you always intend to it tomorrow or next week... but never do... I think loads of people do want to become healthy, but just don't.. which defeats the whole point I know..

[True Story]

I think its for TWO main reasons:

1) Laziness. A lot of people cant be bothered going to the gym or exercising. They simply dont fell like making that effort.

and

2) "Opportunity Cost". Any time spent exercising in order to get healthy is time that could have been spent doing something more enjoyable eg. watching tv, hanging out with mates etc etc. I guess people just feel enjoying themselves now is more important than missing out on fun/tasty/easy things, even if it means they'll suffer health issues in later life.

[Pac Man]

i dnt know...i eat really unhealthily and doctor said i got high cholesterol (yup u heard right). but i WAS really active before. Eating healthily just doesnt fill my tummy up
since iv started uni tho.... iv been to the gym once

new years resolution.... i am soo going to stick by it

[MiSs]

1. Lack of Willpower. to lose (gain) weight. quit smoking. ect.
2. Lazyness

[Graphic Lab]

It's the same as many other things in life such as smoking, fatal attraction, alcohol etc.

Sometimes, nothing really hits home or sinks in until we're given a scare. So until that happens, the risks don't seem to be very real.

Examples:

• A person will only take diet and exercise seriously if and when they have a heart attack or some other diet related illness.
• A person will continue to pursue an illigitimate relationship (affair etc) for as long as they think they can get away with it. The extent of the danger and damage caused only really sinks in when they caught or risk losing their husband/wife and children as well.

The moral of the story is, sometimes we're not aware of the seriousness of certain choices/actions until we're faced with the consequences. By then, it can quite often be too late to do anything.

[nafisa]

I have no sympathy for smokers.

Sometimes, even getting a 'close call' won't stop them quitting.

It's will power to an extent; take out the consideration of cost - if the individual want's something to change enough, it will happen.

[Maya]

The thing is foods that are low in fat and sugar do not need to be expensive and moderation or exercise is certainly not expensive either. I suppose people are just lazy, they are in their comfort zone and find it easier to use excuses rather than making that all important lifestyle change. The way I see it, is if losing weight and/or changing a habit is something a person wants to do, then they just need to make it a priority and do it. It amazes me because there are no magic secrets, it's just up to the person to make it happen.