WHERE IT BEGINS

FIRST AND FOREMOST HEALTHY BEHAVIORS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED AT THE HOME BY THE PARENTS AT A YOUNG AGE. THE PARENTS ARE THE PRIMARY INDIVIDUALS THAT CAN HELP CONSTRUCT OR DESTRUCT A CHILD'S PERCEPTION AND TRAINING REGARDING HEALTHY BEHAVIORS. NOWADAYS EVERYONE IS QUICK TO POINT FINGERS AT EVERYONE SUCH AS THE SCHOOL LUNCH SYSTEM, THE SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION SYSTEM, WHICH PROCEEDS INTO BLAMING THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH TO HELP IN REGARDS TO CHILDREN AND HEALTHY BEHAVIORS. HOWEVER WE SHOULD STEP BACK AND EXAMINE HOW AND WHAT THE PARENTS ARE DOING TO INSTILL HEALTHY HABITS AND BEHAVIORS INTO THEIR CHILDREN. IF THE PARENTS TAKE TIME TO TEACH THESE LESSONS AND IMPLEMENT THEM AT A YOUNG AGE THEN CHILDREN TEND TO

WITH THE INCREASE IN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES WE AS INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH NEWS, AND IN DEPTH HEALTH INFORMATION WITHIN THE PALM OF OUR HANDS. WE AS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE INSTEAD AND INCREASE OUR AWARENESS. SPECIFICALLY FOR PARENTS TO RESEARCH WEBSITES SUCH AS HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020 AND HEALTH FINDER; BOTH OF WHICH ARE GOVERNMENT RUN WEBSITES WHICH OFFER GREAT RESOURCES IN PLANNING HEALTHY DIETS TO EXERCISING FOR ALL AGE GROUPS. FOR HEALTH EDUCATORS I WOULD SUGGEST THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS TO VIEW THE PATIENTS AS A HUMAN INSTEAD OF ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. INSTEAD OF CATEGORIZING PEOPLE BASED ON A RUBRIC GET TO KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL AND CATER TO THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS. ALSO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SHOULD HELP THE INDIVIDUAL REACH REALISTIC AND PRACTICAL GOALS WHICH CAN BE ATTAINED RATHER THAN SOMETHING THEY HOPE WILL HAPPEN. HEALTH EDUCATORS NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THE TRENDS FACING THE CURRENT GENERATION AND APPROACH THEM WITH HEALTH INITIAITVES ACCORDINGLY.

THE MEDIA & CULTURE NEEDS TO STEP BACK AND REEVALUATE ITS PORTRAYAL OF THE IDEAL PERSON. THEY NEED TO STOP OBJECTIFYING PEOPLE AND ALLOW FOR A BROAD RANGE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE THE NORM OF SOCIETY TO BE BROADCAST ON TELEVISION. ALSO PROMOTE SHOWS THAT ARE INTERESTING FOR VIEWERS WHICH INCLUDES THE TOPICS OF IMPROVING HEALTH. MEDIA & CULTURE DO TEND TO SHAPE A LOT OF HOW WE PERCEIVE AND UNDERSTAND VARIOUS TOPICS. HOWEVER IF WE OURSELVES HAVE A STRONG FOUNDATION, A SUPPORTIVE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND PROFESSIONALS WE CAN CHANGE OURSELVES AND THE PEOPLE AROUND US ONE STEP AT A TIME.