A Healthier Mind Within a Healthier Body

A Healthier Mind Within A Healthier Body

Health issues are one of the greatest concerns that society is confronting today. Obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes take accountability for most of these health problems. These diseases can definitely be controlled in their majority if preventive programs are installed throughout different institutions in society. For instance, colleges and universities should require physical education and nutrition classes as part of the graduation requirements. All citizens can benefit from these programs. In the student population, this program can have a tremendous impact on their productivity in terms of performance, and it can foster a better future as professionals and citizens, and it can serve as part of the solution of the health problems affecting society today.

Fast food consumption is associated to these serious health complications mentioned before. In a fast paced society, fast food seems to be a time saving solution. For example, the overscheduled parents are exhausted to dedicate attention to the eating habits of their children; instead, they rather grab a quick empty calories meal, and the problem is solved. A socioeconomic factor also adds up to the problem. As for the population with lower socioeconomic status, fast food presents an energy dense and inexpensive large portioned meal; a value meal is cheaper than a head of broccoli. Fast food companies know that it would not be profitable to broadcast their empty calories across society; therefore, the marketing strategies used are ethically questioned by many. All of these factors contribute to this serious health problems in our society, but there may be possible solutions on the horizon.

Creating more awareness in the population, curbing the effects of mass advertisement by promoting healthy eating habits in schools, and by making healthier options available, may be possible solutions to this epidemic. Adopting a policy enforcing a determined curriculum of classes including physical education and nutrition in college and universities can contribute to the betterment of this issue. These two specific classes should be required as part of the graduation requisites. Throughout the nutrition class, the student population can obtain information that can help them to differentiate between nutritious meals and empty calories meals (high-energy foods with low nutritional value such as processed carbohydrates). Throughout the physical education class, the students can maximize