A Comparative Essay: Health, Well-being, and Childhood Throughout Time

This essay delves into the multifaceted aspects of health and well-being, examining its historical evolution and current challenges, with a specific focus on diabetes as a prominent health concern. It explores the impact of lifestyle changes, genetics, and societal factors on health standards, while also highlighting modern treatments and educational programs aimed at improving health outcomes. Furthermore, the essay investigates the concept of childhood, tracing its historical development and contrasting past and present perspectives. It analyzes the influence of digital technology, social media, and dietary habits on children's physical and cognitive development, arguing that while childhood has evolved, it faces new challenges. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need for social reforms and interventions to promote healthy lifestyles and ensure the well-being of both children and the broader population, acknowledging the dynamic interplay between health, societal shifts, and individual development.

ESSAY

Table of Contents
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING......................................................................................................1
CHILDHOOD..................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
One of the major aspects, associated with ways of learning about the social world is
Health and well-being. This aspect refers to physical as well as mental soundness, where overall
social and health related factors are taken into consideration (Thompson, 2015)
.
One of the major components in association with health and well-being is diabetes. This
refers to appropriate ailment, in context of excessive sugar found in blood. Moreover, its history
stretches up to 17th century, where it was first became evident in Egypt. In context with its
treatment, there was no particular treatment in previous times, and this illness was treated as a
death sentence. However, in 1919, its treatment was discovered as following a strict diet and
even starvation.
In modern days, however, in relation with health and well-being, diabetes is quite
curable, and socially, it is being focused upon quite effectively. Different methods are being
adopted by the current generation to ensure their overall health and well-being. For example,
people adopt a lifestyle associated with regular exercising, effective practices like Yoga and
Ayurveda. In addition to this, there are several appropriate measures that people are taking in
order to reduce the risks related to diabetes. As an example, development of dishes and other
food items have witnessed immense change in relation to the sweetness levels and other sugar-
free alternatives in dealing with issues like diabetes appropriately (Drever and et. al., 2015).
However, over the years this health and well-being issue has witnessed some very serious
enhancements, which perhaps is making diabetes one of the most evident and prominent
epidemics of the century. Reason for the same is that this ailment is being experienced by
individuals all over the world. As per several analyses, 500 people, on an average, die almost
every week due to this disease (500 people with diabetes die prematurely every week, 2019).
This is because diabetes is a disease which could cause several complications within a human
body. The most evident and usual type of complication is cardiovascular health issues, such as
heart attacks. Its other complications include sight loss, amputations, kidney diseases, and so
forth. Hence, this could be stated that health and well-being standards have taken a downfall
through the years and gave rise to health related issues like diabetes.
One of the most major causes of diabetes in today’s world is obesity. Several changes in
lifestyles and complete disregard towards health of an individual are causing severe risks that are
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quite prone to cause diabetes in individuals globally. Other prominent causes of the same in
today’s world include genetics, which refer to transfer of DNA from parents’ body to an
individual. This further is a prominent factor which is quite relevant in terms of causing health
risks associated with diabetes. The neglect of individuals towards this issue as well as their
health and well-being are causing major health related issues (Johnson and Bradbury, 2015).
However, health and wellbeing standards in the current global scenario are transforming
effectively, and certain essential procedure and practices are being adopted by professionals as
well as individuals in context of enhancing the scope of improvement in healthcare standards
such as diabetes. For instance, there are several educational programmes been implemented
within the UK, as well as global world in context of ensuring proper knowledge and learning in
individuals, in terms of health and well-being. Moreover, socially, apart from educational
programmes, lifestyles within communities are also being changed to suit a better and healthier
lifestyle. In terms of healthcare, there are several appropriate and coming of age healthcare
measures which are being undertaken by medical professionals to enhance the health and
wellbeing of people globally (Gunter, 2014).
. For instance, issues like diabetes are being treated appropriately using insulin. However,
non-insulin methods include Sulfonylureas and Metformin are also being currently in use in
dealing with the overall health and well-being problems.
Thus, as to conclude, health and well-being standards within the whole world have seen a
substantial shift throughout the years. For instance, while there were problems like diabetes
before, which were remained untreated due to having no resource or knowledge for the same, in
today’s scenario, this issue is being handled appropriately within the social environment of
several countries. However, in terms of whether this problem has improvised from the past, it
could be stated, that the problem is being quite well spread, due to factors like genetics and
obesity. These issues are hence putting the safety of people into jeopardy. Thus, new techniques,
education, knowledge and treatments are required to deal with this illness and ensure appropriate
development in health and well-being standards of people.
CHILDHOOD
Ways of learning about the social work also helps in understanding childhood. The term
childhood refers to the period of being an infant, to about the age of 11 or 12. Its history is as old
as the existence of humanity, however, it is widely argued, that this concept is a creation of the
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modern society. In terms of its history, prior to 1600, childhood was considered to be quite
normal and children were appropriately sent to maids or servants if they would have needed help
with the household work. Moreover, their education was a subject matter of priests and other
holy individuals. However, after 1600, a social shift was witnessed within the children and their
lifestyles. For instance, children were treated as separate individuals, who were required to be
protected, as well as trained by adults.
In modern day, childhood is a very celebrated and protective event, wherein, children are
quite well trained, as well as enlightened in terms of education and other modern social aspects.
This new social shift in context of childhood is being witnessed around the world, where parents
focus on their cognitive and physical development as soon as they are born. Furthermore, in this
era, childhood is concerned as quite a prominent state for children to develop their personality
and understand several social aspects, which would also allow them to take care of their own
social conduct, along with their health (Huebner and et. al., 2014)..
However, it is quite essential to compare the childhood in previous ages than that of
today. This would allow in assessing that whether this factor has improvised within the future or
not. Arguably, in context with historian Philippe Aries, children were not considered to be any
different from adults and hence, were often misused and misguided. A strong reason which could
support this aspect is associated with inappropriate legal practices in previous times. As per the
historian, there were no effective legislations to appropriately support the development of
children, which resulted in higher infant mortality rate, as well as neglect towards giving birth to
kids. Whereas, within the modern times, social constructivism is one appropriate aspect which is
quite evident in terms of analysing ways in which people should deal with childhood since the
very beginning. Hence, this could be stated that on basis of these aspects, the childhood has
improvised throughout the years (Masten and Monn, 2015).
In contrast, there are several arguable facts, which states that the childhood has not been
quite effective in recent times in comparison with the time before. There are certain elements
which could be provided to support this aspect. For example, digital technology has completely
changed the whole concept of childhood in modern times. Children are very much keen to use
laptops, smart phones, tablets, etc., which are reshaping the physical and cognitive states of
children in a negative manner. One evident change which has been witnessed is short-
sightedness, due to repeated and consistent use of digital technologies. Another impact of the
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same is frequent back and neck pain. Another prominent example of worsening of childhood
over the years is that repeated usage of social media and digital equipments creates problems
within their mental as well as physical health too (Taylor and et. al., 2017).
In addition to this, with excessive junk food places within the country, children are tends
to acquire several problems, such as diabetes or obesity. This health issue further strengthens the
argument against improvement of childhood through the ages. Reason for the same is that, due to
minimal physical activity and high inclination towards technologically advanced equipments are
completely degrading the health of several individuals at a global level. Furthermore, the
lifestyle of children today is quite inappropriate in ensuring their long term health and
development.
However, several social intervention, such as educational services are taking appropriate
steps towards enrich the childhood and reduce the overall lifestyle related problems. They
undertake provision of knowledge and education, which serves as a guide to children in context
of enhancing the scope of improvement.
As to conclude, it could be stated that the childhood has changed in a very effective, yet
inappropriate manner. This is because children’s habits and lifestyles are refraining them from
physical and cognitive development (Jennings, 2015). In addition to this, social reforms are
required to be implemented , which would ensure that each child has appropriate support to
change their lifestyles and cherish their childhood in a better manner. This, it could be said that
childhood has not improved throughout the years, yet there are several scopes of improvements,
which sould be analysed and implemented within society to ensure effectiveness in this aspect.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Drever, A.I., and et. al., 2015. Foundations of financial well‐being: Insights into the role of
executive function, financial socialization, and experience‐based learning in childhood
and youth. Journal of Consumer Affairs. 49(1). pp.13-38.
Gunter, B., 2014. Media and the Sexualization of Childhood. Routledge.
Huebner, E.S., and et. al., 2014. Schooling and children’s subjective well-being. Handbook of
child well-being: Theories, methods and policies in global perspective. pp.797-819.
Jennings, P.A., 2015. Early childhood teachers’ well-being, mindfulness, and self-compassion in
relation to classroom quality and attitudes towards challenging
students. Mindfulness. 6(4). pp.732-743.
Johnson, M.D. and Bradbury, T.N., 2015. Contributions of social learning theory to the
promotion of healthy relationships: Asset or liability?. Journal of Family Theory &
Review. 7(1). pp.13-27.
Masten, A.S. and Monn, A.R., 2015. Child and family resilience: A call for integrated science,
practice, and professional training. Family Relations. 64(1). pp.5-21.
Taylor, R.D., and et. al., 2017. Promoting positive youth development through school‐based
social and emotional learning interventions: A meta‐analysis of follow‐up effects. Child
development. 88(4). pp.1156-1171.
Thompson, R.A., 2015. Social support and child protection: Lessons learned and learning. Child
Abuse & Neglect. 41. pp.19-29.
Online
500 people with diabetes die prematurely every week. 2019. [Online] Available Through:
<https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/premature-deaths-diabetes>
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