Healthism As A Meaningful Social Practice Paper

Healthism as a Meaningful Social Practice

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Healthism

Healthism refers to a personal and social health discipline which focuses on maintaining good health. It comprises a combination of multiple practices ranging from cultivating an appropriate physical fitness practice, relying on appropriate and medically recommended food as well as avoiding anything that may lead to health complications. It is also referred to as public healthism and originated from the article of the renowned political economist by the name Robert Crawford in his powerful article on healthism and medicalization (Pelters, & Wijma, 2016). However, in his submission, Crawford introduces healthism as a negative practice upon which the government

Moreover, healthism entails physical fitness discipline through routine physical exercises such as yoga, routine jogging among other physical fitness practices (Graham et al.2017). Furthermore, lifestyle change is another recommendation in the healthism ideology where people are advised to adopt positive lifestyles which will enable them to avoid stress hence preventing stress related illnesses (Johnson, Gray& Horrell, 2013). Moreover, through lifestyle changes, people are also advised on the appropriate diet to prevent food related complications as well (Musolino et al.2015). Some of the food related complications include obesity, high blood pressure, lumbago, diabetes among other lifestyles related

It is imperative to note that, anything that affects an individual affects the society in which such an individual life (Merrild, Vedsted, & Andersen, 2016). For instance, an individual suffering from measles or Ebola portends a great risk of contracting family members and neighbors with such complication (Ayo, 2012). Moreover, healthcare provision has an associated cost implication which prompt use of resources on healthcare yet such resources can be rescheduled to other necessary social investments.

Furthermore, healthism ensures increased lifespan among people which instead ensures enough labor force since people are physically fit and with minimal or no health complications as it could be the case with health insensitive populations (Turrini, 2015). Therefore, healthism ensures long life among the citizens of a state hence ensuring high economic performance since the health and physical fit population is able to focus exclusively on production.