Each New Year brings resolutions that sadly fall to the wayside after a few weeks. A typical example is trying to adopt a better exercise routine. Interestingly, new recommendations were recently suggested for all
age groups and also special groups
including people with disabilities and pregnant women.
[1]
Globally, about
30% of the population is inactive, with a wide variation among nations.
[2]
6 min read
The Proof Case for Addressing the Negative Social Determinants of Health
Up to
half of all premature deaths are preventable
by modifying behaviors and exposures that occur in communities.[1] “
The Case For More Active Policy Attention To Health Promotion
” sharpens readers’ attention to policy changes directed at disease prevention and health promotion.[2] Rather than spending over 95% of the
$3.5 trillion (2017)
healthcare dollars on disease, wouldn’t moving upstream to prevent illness in the first place make more sense?[3] The nation has been focused on providing health care rather than creating health.
Topics: Bulletin
2 min read
A 2020 retrospective: Blue Zones Project communities demonstrate resilience
Relentless resilience and amazing accomplishments by teams in more than 50 communities were among the powerful themes highlighted by Blue Zones Project SVP Michael Acker in a celebratory colleague Town Hall meeting at the end of 2020.
Topics: Bulletin
2 min read
Human interaction essential for well-being
Words, gestures, and their delivery matter. “
People’s words and actions can actually shape your brain,” is the title of a TED talk by Lisa Feldman Barrett, a frequently cited expert on neuroscience and psychology.
Topics: Right Tribe Bulletin Loved Ones First
4 min read
On the Verge of a Vaccine: How to Encourage Wide Acceptance
The world is on the verge of available COVID-19 vaccines. How can we encourage people to take a vaccine, and why is this question even a consideration?
An answer may be “science denial”—the result of low science literacy—which is a thesis proposed in a Nov. 2020 JAMA article regarding brain mechanisms “that form and maintain false beliefs.” [1] The range of proficiency with science varies markedly, as documented in the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress exam taken by 11,000 high school seniors. [2] Only 22% were “proficient” in science and 40% were “below basic knowledge.” The denial problem is a major threat to individual health and community well-being.
An answer may be “science denial”—the result of low science literacy—which is a thesis proposed in a Nov. 2020 JAMA article regarding brain mechanisms “that form and maintain false beliefs.” [1] The range of proficiency with science varies markedly, as documented in the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress exam taken by 11,000 high school seniors. [2] Only 22% were “proficient” in science and 40% were “below basic knowledge.” The denial problem is a major threat to individual health and community well-being.
Topics: Bulletin
4 min read
Time poverty leads to anxiety, depression, stress
I’m late, I’m late, for a very important date. No time to say hello, good-bye, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late, and when I wave, I lose the time I save.
My fuzzy ears and whiskers took me too much time to shave. I run and then I hop, hop, hop, I wish that I could fly. There’s danger if I dare to stop, and here’s a reason why:
I’m over-due, I’m in a rabbit stew. Can’t even say good-bye, hello, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late.
My fuzzy ears and whiskers took me too much time to shave. I run and then I hop, hop, hop, I wish that I could fly. There’s danger if I dare to stop, and here’s a reason why:
I’m over-due, I’m in a rabbit stew. Can’t even say good-bye, hello, I’m late, I’m late, I’m late.
The above original lyrics sung by the white rabbit in
Alice in Wonderland
capture “time poverty,” now ubiquitous in modern civilization.
Topics: Bulletin
2 min read
Connection between health and friendship common across all life's stages
Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together, stated Woodrow Wilson generations ago. Considering the stress from today’s current events, spending quality time with friends—personal and professional—may be a most effective treatment.
Topics: Right Tribe Bulletin
2 min read
Couples share health habits, both good and bad
Couples sharing more than you might imagine was highlighted in a recent
JAMA Open Network report.
Logically, people living in the same environment, relating to comparable values, and having similar behaviors should share characteristics—both good and bad. Smokers tolerate other smokers, healthy eaters encourage others to eat well, and exercisers (walkers, bikers, swimmers, ball players) all tend to meet and prefer mates with equivalent habits.
Topics: Bulletin
2 min read
Smoking cessation saves money and lives
The single biggest cause of preventable death in America is smoking. “The continuing toll of smoking on people in the United States is staggering. About 34 million U.S. adults still smoke, and half of them will die prematurely if they continue smoking,” according to a Perspective in last week’s
New England Journal of Medicine.
Topics: Bulletin
3 min read
Environmental changes reduce health risks for aging population
Enjoying a healthier life as part of a longer life has created welcome additional opportunities for the traditional successive stages of living—education, work, and retirement. Benefiting meaningfully for both public good and individual well-being is the subject of a recent New England Journal of Medicine Perspective (NEJM).
