When I first started college this past year, one of my professors asked me to define what "health" meant to me. What stands out about this interaction is not the definition I gave, but the class discussion of how health is subjective to each individual. Being healthy does not mean the same thing to everyone, even though we like to generalize definitions of health in our society. There’s more to health than these definitions.
Yet it’s clear that in our society, physical health is where most emphasis is placed. It is easy to see how we are encouraged from a young age to eat nutritious foods and to get enough exercise in order to “stay healthy.” We are told that being overweight means getting reprimanded for not trying hard enough, and that not exercising means we are lazy. Ultimately, though, aren’t all these messages actually having negative effects on our overall health? Below are five examples of contradictions that illustrate how complicated our health can be:
1. We want to “be healthy,” but the majority of us are not.
Ironic that the majority of the United States population is quite unhealthy in one way or another. With about 67% of us overweight, and approximately 20% suffering from a mental health condition, the United States is far from the picture of health.
2. There are certain health conditions that society considers “worse” than others.
For some reason, we like to rank and compare our struggles, invalidates many health conditions. For example, someone with cancer is more likely to be taken seriously than someone with an anxiety disorder.
3. Additionally, any condition that is not “visible” is not considered valid.
I know this is true in today’s society, but I still find it absolutely ridiculous. Many health conditions are biologically based, whether we can see their root causes or not. Depression is a result of chemical imbalance in the brain, for example. But other conditions, such as obesity, are caused by societal pressures that an individual has no control over.
4. We all try to be like each other.
This is odd when you think about how everyone has different body types and different needs. Even if I am looking up to some fitness guru, chances are I don’t want to be completely like her. I just admire her fitness regimen and physique. Mentally, however, I may need be stronger.
5. Yet we ostracize anyone who is different.
If we truly knew the value of health, we would understand that health itself is very subjective. Everyone has their own way of dealing with their personal health, and it doesn't matter whether or not I have a certain health condition. I am still a valid, contributing member of society.
I see health as something that is individualized and not “one-size-fits-all.” I have learned the importance of balancing all aspects of my individual health since going away to college. But through this, I have learned that there is no one recipe for health. My friends take care of their health differently, as they do not have the same daily routines that I do. If it were that simple, everyone would learn from a young age how to be a perfect human being with no flaws.
But that is not how society wants us to think. We are so focused on the little details of our health, that often we overlook the big picture. I encourage you to step back and do what you feel is right for your own mind, body and spirit. There’s no one right answer.
