Education as Leading Social Determinant of Health Essay Example
Introduction: Education and Our Society
The role of education in society has proven to service the people through the spreading of information, teaching of lessons and simply giving the gift of knowledge. With the gift of knowledge, we ultimately give the other the right and the ability, more importantly, to make their own informed choices. An educated mind can go beyond the limits set out by society and can make wise decisions regarding their health, success and general well being by simply using rationale. The level of education one obtains is directly related to the health of that individual, whereby it determines the person’s quality of life and life expectancy. Further more, one may be lead to believe that education is the most significant determinant of health due to its impact on behavioural and lifestyle factors. In other words, the health of an individual is dependant on being informed and educated about the simple lifestyle choices that play a significant role in benefiting or deteriorating the body. Such lifestyle factors include tobacco use, food choices, stress management and physical activity. As the obesity epidemic continues to spread across our western society the overall health of the people worsens and these factors, along with others, contribute significantly. “The prevalence of obesity increased by 40% between 1980 and 1990. Obesity is a chronic disease with a multifactorial etiology including genetics, environment, metabolism, lifestyle, and behavioral components” (Rippe, 1998, p13). Therefore, if lifestyle factors could be controlled and maintained by society through methods of education, it can be assumed that the prevalence of obesity, and even other preventable illnesses, would begin to decrease.
Education: the Leading Socioeconomic Status Measure The overall health of a person, or more specifically their morbidity and mortality experience, is most strongly predicted by their socioeconomic status (Winkleby, 1992, p816).
The role of education in society has proven to service the people through the spreading of information, teaching of lessons and simply giving the gift of knowledge. With the gift of knowledge, we ultimately give the other the right and the ability, more importantly, to make their own informed choices. An educated mind can go beyond the limits set out by society and can make wise decisions regarding their health, success and general well being by simply using rationale. The level of education one obtains is directly related to the health of that individual, whereby it determines the person’s quality of life and life expectancy. Further more, one may be lead to believe that education is the most significant determinant of health due to its impact on behavioural and lifestyle factors. In other words, the health of an individual is dependant on being informed and educated about the simple lifestyle choices that play a significant role in benefiting or deteriorating the body. Such lifestyle factors include tobacco use, food choices, stress management and physical activity. As the obesity epidemic continues to spread across our western society the overall health of the people worsens and these factors, along with others, contribute significantly. “The prevalence of obesity increased by 40% between 1980 and 1990. Obesity is a chronic disease with a multifactorial etiology including genetics, environment, metabolism, lifestyle, and behavioral components” (Rippe, 1998, p13). Therefore, if lifestyle factors could be controlled and maintained by society through methods of education, it can be assumed that the prevalence of obesity, and even other preventable illnesses, would begin to decrease.
Education: the Leading Socioeconomic Status Measure The overall health of a person, or more specifically their morbidity and mortality experience, is most strongly predicted by their socioeconomic status (Winkleby, 1992, p816).