Our example of Public Health is this billboard that I came across on my way back from Walmart today on Atlanta Highway. Not many billboards catch my eye, but this one did. When I looked up the definition of Public Health, I noticed that it is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals," which is definitely displayed by this billboard. Bodyplex is a gym located in Athens that is trying to draw people in by lowering their prices, which is great in a college town like this. It is one of the nicer gyms, so the fact that they are offering memberships for as low as ten dollars a month caught me off guard! I asked one of my friends, Kevin Schatell, if he knew about this deal that Bodyplex was having and he was totally surprised to find out that they were offering these kind of rates.
The reason that this is an example of Public Health is because it is an organization promoting healthy lifestyle choices and advertising it for the public to see, which increases awareness. It is often times difficult for people to get up off of the couch and get motivated to work out. But with advertisements like these, people are going to become more and more interested in the idea of working out, hopefully placing them in the "Pre-contemplation" stage just by driving past the billboard. By lowering their rates, they are attracting a larger population of people, saving them money, and motivating them to make healthy choices and get physically active.
We chose this example because working out and staying active is one of the most difficult things to do these days with lack of time and money. I know that I have contemplated joining a gym many times, yet I have never made it happen because of financial reasons and lack of time. After seeing this sign, I was even motivated to pick up the phone and call Bodyplex. Advertising in this way is one of the best ways to promote public health and increase awareness about ways to change your sedentary lifestyle.
It is important to others to realize that this is an example of public health because few people realize how prevalent obesity is in this country. Over one-third of adults are obese in the United States, which leads to conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The effects of obesity are so severe and awareness of these potential outcomes needs to increase. With billboards such as these, people will drive by and begin reflecting on their lifestyle choices and how they need to be changed. This example of public health addresses easy, low cost ways to turn your life around by joining a gym. More advertisements such as these should be created so that word can spread about how to increase your overall health.
Melissa Thomas
Brandon Murphy
Margaret Sharpe
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