Challenges to Health and Wellness

¶ … Health and Wellness

Staying well is easy for some people, and others seem to always be battling some form of illness. Genetics play a part in how healthy a person generally remains throughout life, but there are other factors that come into play such as behaviors like smoking or drinking (Ogden, 2007). Overall, people who eat healthy and exercise will live longer lives and have fewer illnesses than people who eat poorly and are very sedentary (Marks, et al., 2011). Smokers and heavy drinkers also tend to have more health problems than people who do not smoke and who either abstain from drinking or drink very little (Ogden, 2007). There are exceptions to these rules, of course, but they are few and far between. One of the main challenges to health and wellness is how to get information to people so that they can adopt a better, healthier lifestyle that will keep them free of disease and extend their lifespan (Taylor, 2005).

There are many different ways to disseminate information, but not everyone is going to be responsive when information is provided, because of the way in which that information was given to them (Marks, et al., 2011). In other words, if a health psychologist can figure out a way to really grab and hold the attention of the public, it will be more likely that a large number of people will follow the information given by that psychologist (Taylor, 2005). Ad campaigns about health eating, smoking cessation, exercise, and other important health issues have been ongoing for years, but those campaigns do not reach everyone. Some people do not find those campaigns relatable, in that the campaigns do not "speak to them" on a level where they feel called to action. Without that connection to their life, nothing will change (Marks, et al., 2011).

Because of a lack of ability to create health and wellness campaigns to which everyone can relate, there will always be a segment of society that falls through the cracks. Part of the job of people who work in the field of health psychology is to find new and better ways in which campaigns and organizations can reach out to people who need interventions in their health (Marks, et al., 2011). Better campaigns and newer information regarding drinking and smoking are important, as are healthy living campaigns based on how much exercise a person should be getting each day and what kinds of foods that person should consume for optimum health (Taylor, 2005). Of course, there is also quite a bit of disagreement regarding "right" and "wrong" when it comes to areas of life such as diet.

As a health psychologist, a person can help others meet and handle challenges that relate to well-being (Ogden, 2007). What kind of diet to follow, how much exercise to get, how much alcohol is safe and acceptable, and the best ways to quit smoking are all important -- and they may all be different for each person. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to health and well-being, because some people react far differently than others to medications, lifestyle changes, stress, and other factors (Quick & Tetrick, 2003). There are certainly guidelines, but there will be people who will fall outside of those, as well as many who will skirt along the edges.