Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Health and Wellness

Some of my readers know that I'm currently working on my master's degree in Human Services, with a concentration in health and wellness.  There are so many things I can do with this degree and one thing that keeps coming to mind is working in a setting where I help people with food issues.  In the United States, a large number of people have a serious problem with obesity and weight-related illnesses which contributes to our health care crisis.  


A fellow blogger recently posted an article comparing French diet habits and food packaging to those in the United States.  You can read about it here.  This ties in with my post of yesterday where I talked about quality versus quantity.  Although I was talking about possessions, it applies to food as well.  We're supersizing ourselves into the hospital and an early grave.


It saddens me to see people with severe health problems when most of these conditions are easily preventable.  One day, when I'm done with school, I  would love to be part of the solution to this problem.



Photo courtesy of www.freedigitalimages.net
Photographer:  Suat Eman

6 comments:

Wanda Barrett said...

I was just thinking about this today...that if I felt 'called' to change careers it would involve nutrition/agriculture - something to do with food production and consumption. But really, what types of jobs are out there? Would I have to start some type of business in order to make a difference? I don't see myself working in an institution and being able to make any type of meaningful change.

Cherie said...

Wanda, I'm not sure what I will be able to do, if anything, but I am thinking that might be the field I need to go into. I haven't researched it much. For your own business, there is health and wellness coaching; institutional wise, some hospitals have integrative programs. I suppose if you work one-on-one with clients you will see small differences. That work could affect people you might never meet as they spread the word to family and friends.

Shona~ LALA dex press said...

What a wonderful pursuit.

Cherie said...

Thank you, Shona.

Wanda Barrett said...

It is a conundrum. I doubt seriously I'm looking at changing careers but I do have some time on my hands and I could do volunteer work. Maybe I could find a way to work toward better school lunches. Or community gardening. I'll have to keep thinking about it too.

Cherie said...

Wanda, how about a school garden? I know of a church in Ybor - Relevant Church - that is working with B. T. Washington Elementary - purchasing school supplies, tutoring, etc. These kids are truly the forgotten ones in the city. It would be awesome for a group to do some sort of food garden to give them lifelong skills. Don't know if they have space but I know there are schools that do. Would love to hear what you end up doing in your "spare" time.