Health in Today’s Society

            In my opinion, the quality of health has declined for all countries in the recent years.  For different countries, it is in different ways, whether it’s the spreading of AIDS, smoking, inactive lifestyles, or any of the countless other problems. Each country needs to look at its particular situation and find solutions to any existing problems. 
            In the United States of America people of all ages tend to be in one of two categories: very active or inactive. Only a small percentage is moderately active. The people who are very active value their health and their appearance to others. They know the trend of society, and they want to go against it. As for the people who are considered inactive, their numbers seem to grow each year. What is to blame for this? Ultimately, the people themselves, but let’s look at a few things that lead them in that direction. For the young people, the increase of video games, Internet, and television programs has enticed them to stay inside, sitting on their backsides for hours on end.  The lack of safe places to play is something to be considered for the elementary-aged child. Adults in the US lead very fast-paced lives that often leave little time for exercise or simply leave them too exhausted from the day’s work to attempt any exercise. They are working longer hours and in more stressful environments than in the past. This not only affects their own lives, but also the lives of their children. Parents are not spending time with them, taking them to the park, teaching them to play sports, encouraging them to be active, as parents did in the past.
            Eating habits are declining as well. As more families have both parents working full-time jobs and then often scheduling other activities in the evenings, there is less time for the proper sit-down meal that families were accustomed to having in the past. Families tend to rely on the quick and easy “drive-thru” windows of various fast food joints. McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, and countless others line the streets of every town. Even when families take the time to prepare a more nutritious meal, it is often made with foods with so many preservatives and other chemicals that the nutritional value is diminished. The healthy food is expensive, and therefore poorer families cannot afford it.  It is cheaper to buy fattier meats, cheaper to buy canned fruits and vegetables instead of fresh ones. Organic food is often twice the cost, or more, of others.
            Sleeping habits aren’t any better. There has been a rise in the number of people using over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. Adults have more to do than the hours of day allow. Stress keeps them awake and/or keeps them from staying asleep. Teenagers stay up late on the Internet or phone, watching television, or trying to study and complete homework. Children are staying up later than in the past as well. Parents are allowing them to watch television later at night.
            These are some of the main problems with health in the US. Of course, this is generally speaking. There are still families that make time to be active together, families in which the children play outside as much as possible, families that rarely go to those fast food establishments. There are initiatives, particularly in schools, being started to promote healthier living.
            While most American teenagers are heavier and less active than most Romanian teenagers, the problem I see with Romanian teenagers are the vast numbers which are smoking. Smoking is a trend that is decreasing in the US, and I hope that soon it will begin to decrease in Romania as well. Smoking is a dangerous and nasty habit. Both my parents smoked when I was a child, but both of them have quit since then. 
            Each country has areas to focus on, and not just the US and Romania. Health is an issue that needs to be taken seriously across the world.

Courtney Hagins, English Teacher