COVID-19 isn’t the only pandemic that has affected the well-being of Americans today. With millions of people suffering from weight gain, obesity has become another major public health concern in the United States. And that’s not it; 133 million Americans (one-half of them) are suffering from at least one severe health condition right now, not to mention how one-half of them also have a poor diet.

So, how can you make your community healthier? A healthy community is a lot more productive than an unhealthy one. And this article will now help you improve society’s health. Read the suggestions mentioned here to make society healthier for everyone, particularly children:

1. Plant more trees

Here’s a simple suggestion for enhancing your community’s well-being, i.e., planting more trees. Make the air in your neighborhood more breathable by expanding its green spaces. Ask neighborhood kids to contribute to this campaign to involve them in this project. Planting more trees is good for improving the town’s aesthetics too.

2. Take up a career in public health

Public health is becoming an increasingly popular career choice among people who want to work in healthcare settings besides clinics and hospitals. These include careers in public health policy, working with private and government organizations to spread awareness about healthy living, biostatistics, epidemiology, etc. You can leverage distance-learning opportunities to set yourself on the correct path for such lucrative careers. So, consider pursuing online MPH degrees from a reputable university to increase your know-how about the field.

3. Develop natural spaces

The more you get closer to nature, the healthier you become. Spending more time in nature improves your well-being, and there’s no reason to assume this strategy won’t work for a community. Therefore, community leaders should develop natural spaces, e.g., public parks and gardens.

Establish outdoor recreational spaces where kids can engage in physical activities to improve their well-being. Spending time attuning to nature can reduce stress and depression, and improve one’s mental well-being.

4. Encourage volunteer work

Encourage community members to participate in volunteer work, e.g., organizing food drives and soup kitchens. Volunteering enhances the well-being of your community and allows community members to provide healthy food options to their neighbors. Let everyone participate in the decision-making process to bolster the well-being of society.

5. Educate the public

Studies indicate that 50% of Americans believe they’re consuming healthy food when they actually have a poor diet. Public health experts must educate community members about choosing healthy options to eat and drink over unhealthy options. People must be aware of the correlation between their eating habits and how their choices can affect their health positively and negatively. The same goes for educating the public about the benefits of the following activities:

• Exercising
• Staying hydrated
• Getting a good night’s sleep
• Quitting smoking/drinking
• Adopting some healthy hobbies

6. Make schools healthier

Statistics show that, in 2017, only 26.1% of high school kids were physically active. It means less than one-third of teenagers were participating in hour-long activities daily. So, how can you encourage more kids to become healthier again?

You can ensure children get healthy food at school and plenty of opportunities to indulge in fitness and sports. Also, public health experts should focus on fostering a love of healthy pastimes among kids to boost their activity levels. Healthy children will become productive members of society in the future.

7. Make walkable cities

Community leaders and managers should promote the idea of walkable cities to trim down carbon emissions caused by private vehicles. Promote carpooling and public transport among community members so they can decrease their carbon footprints.

When a town becomes more walkable and people switch to public transport, the number of vehicles on the roads goes down. Fewer cars mean fewer vehicular accidents and a safer society for pedestrians (particularly younglings and older adults). Some experts also suggest making bike-friendly towns where everyone uses harmless emission-free bicycles to commute. These residential modifications will create healthier communities and improve everyone’s well-being.

8. Provide exercise among people

A sedentary lifestyle goes against your community’s health goals. Sadly, a quarter of Americans are physically inactive and live a sedentary life. Spending time lying around or sitting in front of a television isn’t healthy. However, most people lack easy access to proper exercising opportunities. So, community leaders should provide people with workout options to make their communities healthier. Consider the following exercise options:

• Stress-reducing exercises
• Yoga, reiki, and similar options
• Meditation and mindfulness exercises
• Dance classes for everyone and walk-a-thons
• Subsidized gym memberships and other incentives

9. Grow healthy foods

Encourage community members to grow garden-fresh fruits and vegetables to promote healthy eating. Show them how these items can be grown easily in a backyard with a combination of homemade compost and organic fertilizers (no pesticides, though!). Growing your food can benefit your family’s and the neighborhood’s well-being. Also, it’s more environment-friendly and promotes gardening as a fair hobby for their children.

Conclusion

Experts have been spreading awareness about the harmful consequences of an average American’s diet for the last couple of years. Statistics indicate that one-third of people eat fast food daily, while others mostly eat lots of salt, refined grains, and saturated fats. Is it possible to make our society healthier again? Yes. You must give community members healthier options to eat and drink, educate them about the benefits of exercising regularly, and ensure children have access to healthy food instead of junk. Following the tips above can help you make a meaningful contribution to your community.