One of the most fast-paced cities in the world, New York City is famous for being the “city that never sleeps.” As NYC residents, we know that this is not a misleading statement. Rushing people, crowded streets and trains, blaring horns – these are all a part of our daily routine. Not to mention the long commute, long work days, and high cost of living [1]. As a result, New York City dwellers experience some of the highest levels of stress in the world. Stress can lead to various health conditions, such as heart disease, asthma, obesity, diabetes, headaches, depression, Alzheimer’s disease and more [2]. In fact, the rate at which people die of heart attacks in New York is 55 percent higher than the national average [3].
Unfortunately, there is not much we can do to change the overall fast-paced nature of the city. The one thing we do have control over, however, is our own individual perception of stress/how we respond to stress. The attached video explains the biological effect that stress has on your body and offers ways to alleviate it. As mentioned in the video, it is important to put aside some time to spend with family and friends, or to engage in a relaxing physical activity such as yoga or meditation. Sometimes we get so caught up with our own work that we unknowingly neglect any rest time. With the impending finals, don’t forget to take a break from your studies every now and then to let your mind relax. (Hopefully I can follow my own advice.)
Another essential problem in public health is the significant health disparities present among New Yorkers of various economic and racial groups. Looking at the trend diagrams on the America’s Health Rankings website, we see that the rates for diabetes and obesity have been increasing steadily for the past two decades [4]. It is estimated that about 25.4% of adults living in New York are obese and that 8.9% suffer from diabetes. However, studies show that stress and health levels are especially bad for minorities living in the city. According to a report conducted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the poorest New Yorkers are 4 times more likely to report poor overall health than the wealthiest [5]. Processed fast food is both readily available and inexpensive, which often makes it the only choice for those living in poor conditions [6]. Since the poorest city neighborhoods are comprised mainly of minority groups, these individuals are more likely to eat these foods, which plays a key factor in the detriment of their health.
The best way to combat obesity, especially within minority groups, is through preventative measures within the public education system. For many children from poor backgrounds, school breakfast and lunch are the biggest – and sometimes the only – meals that they have all day. Eating healthier as a child significantly reduces his or her chance of heart disease in the future. It is vital that parents band together within the Parent-Teacher Association at their child’s school to demand a healthier school lunch menu for their children. This may be difficult, especially for parents working long hours, so an alternative solution to encourage involvement is to allow online communication about these issues so that everyone can have a say in each matter regardless of whether or not they can attend the meetings.
References:
[1] http://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/2014/06/25/most-stressed-out-cities/
[2]http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/features/10-fixable-stress-related-health-problems
[3]http://nymag.com/nymetro/urban/features/stress/10888/
[4] http://www.americashealthrankings.org/NY
[5] Karpati A, Kerker B, Mostashari F, Singh T, Hajat A, Thorpe L, Bassett M, Henning K, Frieden T. Health Disparities in New York City. New York: New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2004.
[6] http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/24bittman.html?_r=0
Denise, I agree in large part with your solution. I think it is imperative to intervene and alter dietary habits at an early age. When a young boy or girl is obese, unless drastic measures are taken such as strict dieting or excessive physical activity, that young boy or girl will often grow into an unhealthy and overweight adult. In order for the adults of our society be happier and healthier, we must target the youngest members of society and try to change the way they eat. A perfect place to intervene would be in New York City public schools, as you said. In order to change the current lunch menu in schools, I think it may take more than mere parental support, however. While the voices of parents are always heard, officials fail to listen to these voices on many occasions. If we were able to get a big name in our society to jump on board and really exploit the unhealthy nature of our current NYC lunch menu, they will have no choice but to act. It is our goal and mission to better the future of New York and this solution would be an excellent way to start working towards a happier, healthier New York City.