Living large is a term typically used for one living a life that is extravagant. Extravagant can be synonymous to large portion sizes and long periods at the desk or television- you get the idea. Recent epidemiological statistics agree: that Australians are living an extravagant lifestyle that is not worth bragging about. One in two Australians have a current chronic medical condition at even given time. There are eight noteworthy chronic conditions according to public health experts- which are: cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental health conditions, arthritis, back pain and problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and diabetes. You may have noticed that I have highlighted six out of the eight chronic conditions- as empirically I like to cluster the aforementioned affecting each other at some capacity such as: back pain reducing mobility, which increases sedentary behavior- and thus increasing insulin resistance. Each chronic condition is a blog on it’s own. So, as I always like to spark a few gamma waves that may entice you to deconstruct your own confirmation bias’s- that the highlighted chronic conditions are not just treatable beyond pharmacology, but are preventable and curable by moving more- whether it is a bit more huff-and puffing (aerobic activity), or applying forces against gravity (lifting weights, spending time in the garden). One in four Australians have a chronic condition- with mental illness and coronary artery disease being among the most common. What is most saddening, is that 87% of deaths are accounted for by a chronic condition. Socrates famous dictum: “The unexamined life is not worth living” is provoked by living a life that is deep in thought, is rational and logic and has a touch of agape (unabiding love). If I replaced ‘unexamined’ with “unhealthy”, one would hopefully agree with me- that “A unhealthy life is not worth living”. Here I come back to the metaphor of living large. Why not commit to your own dictum of living a healthy life, that is provoked by moving well and regularly, following evidence based food guidelines, seeing your GP for regular check ups, embracing your default mode network by finding time to be creative and playful, and lastly- maintain strong social ties, which we know decreases ones risk of cardiovascular diseases and metal illness.
James 🙂
Sourced from the ABC:
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