From Your Health Journal…..”I love the Huffington Post, and always try to draw traffic their way, as the cover so many great health topics. Today, I found an article called Wellness In A Complex World, written by Monica Weinberg. This is an excellent article, which nails health on the head. The author starts by discussing how in our technological age, we have become very sedentary, with food available at our fingertips, but less time to take care of ourselves and live a healthy lifestyle. So many people face a rough road ahead, as they suffer from many chronic illness due to this lifestyle, whether heart disease, obesity, cancer, weak joints, type 2 diabetes, and low self esteem. The number 1 reason people give for not staying healthy is ‘I just don’t have the time.’ Change (a movement) is needed. As a society we could benefit from a movement that would enable employers to be more engaged in creating opportunities and incentives at the work place for people to get more activity, to eat better, and to provide escapes for mental relaxation (such as napping or meditation rooms). Please visit the Huff Post web site (link provided below) to support and read Ms. Weinberg’s complete article. It is a good one!”
From the article…..
As we live in a more complex, dynamic world, which is constantly changing with technological innovations, we are increasingly more interconnected. While technology continues to advance our society with better communication, efficiency and productivity we need to step back and reassess what is happening to the state of our health and wellness in this new world. Work is increasingly more sedentary as we sit in front of computer screens all day. Food is readily available. We are facing an obesity epidemic, and as a result a rise in chronic disease including diabetes and heart disease, which is shortening and decreasing the quality of many lives.
Why do we allow this to happen? Why is it so difficult to incorporate healthy lifestyle choices into the way we live? Although many of us know what the right choices are with regards to diet and exercise, many people find it challenging to adhere to healthier behaviors.
As an internist at NYU Medical Center, I am on the forefront of treating chronic disease and prevention. In most cases it is easy to determine what is wrong with a patient, but behavior modification is a huge challenge. I counsel patients daily on weight loss, exercise, better sleep practice and diet modification, but despite patients being well aware of what needs to be done, successful behavior change is the exception rather than the rule.
Patients offer many reasons for why it is difficult to exercise and maintain better eating habits including: “I don’t have time,” “I work too hard,” “My kids keep me busy,” or “l’ll work on this after I finish my next project or my next deadline.” I often discuss with my patients, that if they were to prioritize their health as much as they prioritize their success at work or their success as a parent, then likely they would find the time and motivation to make a healthy lifestyle change.
To read the complete article…..Click here