Analysis of Healthism and Its Influence on Well-being Report

This report evaluates studies on healthism, analyzing its role in the dimensionalization of well-being and the impact of healthy behavior on individuals. It examines children's perspectives on health factors, highlighting the importance of exercise and healthy eating. The report defines healthism and discusses how it influences various aspects of life, such as work satisfaction, self-esteem, and the ability to cope with stress. It reflects on the values associated with a healthy lifestyle, including joy, freedom, and a desire to live. Factors contributing to ill health, such as smoking, poor diet, environmental pollution, and violence, are also discussed. The report references various studies and concludes by summarizing the key findings on the influence of healthism and its impact on health and well-being.

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Introduction
This report evaluates and analyzes the studies on healthism and gives opinions on the
subjects discussed in the other assessments. One of the subjects analyzed is is the role
of healthism in dimensionalization of well being. The role that healthy behavior has in
ensuring good living is analyzed and an opinion is given concerning the influence that
health living has on the well being of an individual (Mcmurray & Clendon, 2011).
The children`s views on health are also analyzed and evaluated. Children were asked
to indicate the factors that they thought had an influence on their health. They were
seen to draw two or more items in response to the question on factors that influence
their health and well being.
Healthism can be defined as a neologism that is used to describe a variety of
ideologies concerning health and medicine. The article on “healthism: The One-
dimensionalization of well being” discusses various factors that influences the health
of human beings. Various studies are presented in the paper with children also being
questioned on the factors that they belief have an effect on their healthy well being
(Vickerstaff, Phillipson& Wilkie, 2013). A reflection on these factors gives a deeper
insight on how the affect the health and well being of an individual in a particular
society. Healthy people in the society have become models in the society. Everything
good and positive has come to be associated with good health. A reductionalism has
occurred and more values are integrated into the health systems. “Super health” is
given many positive values that exalt the importance of good health to an individual.
As expressed in the paper, health brings about a sense of happiness and purpose to an
individual. This is because an individual is able to carry out all their activities without

worrying about their health and without undergoing pain and suffering. (Baggott,
2011) The work satisfaction of a person improves if they are in good health because,
they are able to optimize their productivity and ensure maximum returns for their
work and hence ensuring work satisfaction. Health however has little effect on self
esteem of an individual. This is because self esteem of an individual is mostly
influenced by psychological factors such as Love and affection as well as recognition
and social status. The capacity to function effectively under stress is also greatly
affected by health of an individual. This is because in good health, a person is able to
absorb pressure and work faster and effectively compared to if a person is in ill health
(Snooks, 2009). Commitment to living in the world by an individual is influenced so
much by the health of a person. This is because when a person is in good health, they
are able to look into the future in a more optimistic manner and hence have a desire to
live in the world.
Another value of health living is that of expanded life of joy and happiness. Good
health also helps individuals to love whatever they are doing. This values do not work
in isolation. Living healthy by itself does not lead to a person living a life of joy and
happiness since there are factors in life which may lead to a person not living a life of
happiness and joy (Greenhalgh, Humphrey& Woodard, 2010). Lack of joy and
happiness due to other factors may also lead to poor health of an individual. In
addition to this, health is identified as an important factor in promoting freedom of an
individual person. This is because in good health, a person can be able to express
themselves in confidence without fear and with a positive look into the future without
being bound by their health status.
The data conducted on the factors that children thought had an influence on health
shows that most of the children believe that exercise and healthy eating are essential

in influencing good health. Physical exercise is a factor that is important in
determining the health of an individual. This is because by doing physical exercises
one can be able to avoid diseases that can about due to issues of exercising. Diseases
such as diabetes, blood pressure, and heart diseases can be prevented by engaging in
physical exercises which keeps the body fit and hence avoiding these sicknesses.
Healthy eating makes the body strong and the body is able to fight most of the disease
causing pathogens and hence promoting good health (Ajala, 2009). Some of the foods
that were identified as contributing to good health include vegetables, fruits and other
healthy food. Sporting activities should be promoted in schools and in the society in
general so as to promote good health. By avoiding smoking and unhealthy eating
habits, a person can be able to significantly increase their chances of remaining
healthy for long period of time.
Smoking and poor diet were determined as the major factors contributing to poor
health (Greenhalgh, Humphrey& Woodard, 2010). This is because they have directly
opposite effects as the factors contributing to good health. Smoking contributes to
many diseases that have a huge overall effect on the health of an individual. Smoking
causes diseases such as cancer and breathing complications. Poor diet is also causes ill
health since the body depends so much on what we consume. If a person consumes
unhealthy food with so much cholesterol and fat, they are likely to develop weight
issues which contribute to poor health (Lundy, Janes & Lundy, 2016). Other factors
that were identified as contributing to poor health include; violence, environmental
pollution, poor hygiene, alcohol and illnesses.

Conclusion
The paper reviews the assessment on healthism and the factors that are believed to
contribute to ill health among individuals. The values of healthy lifestyle such as
living an happy and joyous life freedom, offering hope and the desire to live are
reflected upon in this paper. The other values reflected upon include high self esteem,
work satisfaction, ability to engage in creative expression and the ability to work
under stress. Children`s views on factors that promote good health are also reflected
upon. Most of the children indicated that the physical exercises and diet are the major
factors that contribute to health. The factors that were identified as contributing to ill
health include; smoking, bad diet, environmental pollution and violence.

References
Ajala, A. S. (2009). Rural Health Provisioning: Socio-Cultural Factors Influencing
Maternal And Child Health Care In Osun State, Nigeria. Frankfurt Am Main, Peter
Lang.
Baggott, R. (2011). Public Health Policy And Politics. Basingstoke, Palgrave
Macmillan. Http://Lib.Myilibrary.Com?Id=976647.
Greenhalgh, T., Humphrey, C., & Woodard, F. (2010). User Involvement In Health
Care. New York, Ny, John Wiley & Sons.
Http://Nbn-Resolving.De/Urn:Nbn:De:101:1-201411252279.
Lundy, K. S., Janes, S., & Lundy, K. S. (2016). Community Health Nursing: Caring
For The Public's Health.
Mcmurray, A., & Clendon, J. (2011). Community Health And Wellness: Primary
Health Care In Practice. Chatswood, N.S.W., Elsevier Australia.
Http://Search.Ebscohost.Com/Login.Aspx?
Direct=True&Scope=Site&Db=Nlebk&Db=Nlabk&An=448468.
Snooks, M. K. (2009). Health Psychology: Biological, Psychological, And
Sociocultural Perspectives. Sudbury, Mass, Jones And Bartlett Publishers.
Vickerstaff, S., Phillipson, C., & Wilkie, R. (2013). Work, Health And Well-Being:
The Challenges Of Managing Health At Work. Bristol, Policy.