Why Do People Choose to Stay Unhealthy Despite Knowing Otherwise?
- Research Staff
- Apr 14
- 8 min read
In a world where health knowledge is more accessible than ever, the question isn't what we know but why we often fail to act on it. This article uncovers the barriers that stand between awareness and action.
By David Martin, B.A.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? |
This article is important because it delves into the puzzling gap between knowing and doing. Despite living in an era where information is more accessible than ever, many individuals still struggle to make healthier choices. By exploring the systemic, psychological, social, and biological factors, the article provides deeper insight into this behavior and offers solutions to inspire change. It’s a meaningful read for anyone looking to bridge the divide between awareness and action in pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. |
Takeaways
● Some people still choose to live unhealthily despite knowing what is healthy
● Examining the different systemic, psychological, social, and biological reasons behind consistent unhealthy lifestyle patterns
● Exploring what research studies and statistics have to say about people’s decision to stay unhealthy
● Offering potential solutions to reduce unhealthy behavior
Introduction
We live in an information age where making informed decisions about our health is much easier now than in the past. Our smartphones, tablets, and cell phones provide us with a readily accessible wealth of information on managing and caring for our well-being.
Public health initiatives have also increased educational access and resources about a myriad of health topics related to dieting, exercise, vaccinations, STD prevention, and mental health, among other health issues. But, then, why do some people not act on that information, especially when it comes to making choices about their health? This article will examine some of the reasons behind this predicament.
Reasons Behind the Gap Between Increasing Health Knowledge and Poor Health Outcomes
Food Insecurity
First, it is important to realize that not everyone has access to the same resources, regardless of their health literacy or knowledge and access to health information. Many communities are plagued with food insecurity and are unable to afford or have access to more nutritious food sources, which further exacerbates health disparities.
In addition, transportation challenges prevent access to traditional means of nutritious, natural food, such as farmers' markets, fresh grocery store chains, and exercise facilities, such as gyms. As a result, fast-food restaurants, which tend to sell calorie-rich and fattening foods, are a cheaper and more convenient option for lower-income residents.
There are systemic reasons behind the prevalence of food insecurity. Historically, discriminatory lending practices in the 20th century have led to significant disparities in low-income Black and Latino neighborhoods in America, including limited access to supermarkets that sell fresh produce and nutritional foods.
Established in 1934, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured mortgages but systematically discriminated against urban areas with higher concentrations of minority residents. These neighborhoods were often labeled as “high risk” or “hazardous,” primarily due to racial biases, which resulted in residents facing higher interest rates or being excluded from loans altogether.
As a consequence of these discriminatory policies, investment in these communities dwindled over time, leading to deteriorating conditions. The long-lasting effects of these practices have contributed to ongoing disparities, including the reluctance of grocery stores and farmers' markets to establish locations in these underserved neighborhoods.
A study showed that socioeconomic (SES) factors significantly predicted the development of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) and that lifestyle factors did not fully mediate the link between SES and CMD, meaning that SES status is a larger predicting factor (Zhou et al., 2024).
Addictions and Mental Health
In addition to food scarcity, some addictions contribute to unhealthy decision-making. Addictions pose a significant challenge to maintaining healthy living standards. People can be addicted to a myriad of unhealthy habits, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, substance abuse, and consuming junk food. Certain compounds, such as nicotine, make people addicted to certain things, which makes it harder to break out of that vicious cycle despite knowing what is or is not healthy.
According to science, the human brain operates on a rewards-based system in which behaviors such as exercise and eating, which are linked to our survival, release the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine not only enables us to feel better, but it also instructs our brain to repeat the same behaviors. Drugs such as marijuana, opioids, and cocaine trigger the same dopamine response system responsible for repetitive behaviors.
16.7% and 10.2% of Americans aged 12 and older suffer from substance abuse and alcohol use disorders, respectively (NSDUH, 2023).
In addition to addictions, there are other mental health factors to consider, such as emotional stress and body image issues. Depression and anxiety can lead to changes in eating and exercise habits. As a result of mood changes, people’s appetites might change, and they may either consume too much or too little food. This is especially true when it comes to eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa.
9% of the US population, or approximately 29 million people, will have an eating disorder in their lifetime (Eating Recovery Center, 2024).
Lack of Motivation
There is also a lack of motivation to curtail certain habits. If certain diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, take years to progress, it might not convince some people right away to alter their lifestyle choices. The lack of immediate consequences deters some people from leading healthier lives and leads to procrastination.
Preference for Sweets and Calorie-Rich Foods
Some people find healthier food options, such as water and vegetables, as distasteful and less sweet, which deters them from consuming them regularly. According to some studies, our bodies naturally prefer sweetness over bitter-tasting food because of an evolutionary built-in drive to favor fruits and other energy-rich foods over potentially poisonous ones. In fact, according to a 2021 study conducted by Duke University, people’s brains consistently take longer to process health information over taste information.
So, for instance, if someone is hungry, their brains take about 400 milliseconds to process taste information, whereas it takes twice as long (~800 milliseconds) to process health and nutritional information. In other words, in a given quick decision scenario, participants are more likely to select whichever food they perceive as tastier while taking longer to consider a nutritional context.
Peer Pressure
Finally, there is the issue of peer pressure. Peer pressure, whether friends, family members, classmates, colleagues, or the media, can entice people to neglect their health. For example, children might consider trying smoking because they want to imitate or impress their peers for fear of rejection. Social media plays a significant role as well.
A 2024 study conducted by the University of Manchester in England showed that children who used social media less were more likely to be physically active, get better sleep, and consume more fruits and vegetables. This could be attributed to the fact that children who are less dependent on technology are more likely to spend their leisure time outdoors and be less distracted by negative influences.
A 2019 meta-analysis study conducted on Ethiopian high school and college students found that students who experienced peer pressure had a 2.68 higher odds of smoking cigarettes in comparison to those who did not experience any kind of peer pressure (Leshargie et al., 2019).
Potential Solutions
Potential solutions to address these glaring barriers are multifaceted and complex, with some requiring congressional and legislative intervention. Reducing food insecurity and ensuring access to healthier food choices for marginalized communities is a good first step.
This could involve enticing more farmers' markets and grocery store chains to open up in more urban settings, reducing their produce prices, and accepting food stamps. Tackling socioeconomic disparities and facilitating job growth is another way to improve health outcomes. Additionally, negative influences from peers and the media could be mitigated by increasing knowledge and education at public schools, religious houses of worship, community health centers, daycare centers, hospitals, and clinics.
Parents can aim to reduce their child’s social media exposure and encourage more physical activities. Increasing access to mental health services is also a good way to help combat addictions and provide afflicted individuals with the necessary support for rehabilitation.
Conclusion
Following a consistent health regimen is oftentimes easier said than done. Many factors determine the execution of the advice we are given to optimize our health and safety, be they psychological, socioeconomic, social, emotional, or biological.
Removing some of these barriers, especially at the legislative and policy-making levels, can be an effective first step in the right direction to improve overall societal health outcomes. Some of these steps include reducing food insecurity, combating artificial beauty standards, educating students about the harmful effects of peer pressure, and providing rehabilitation for those suffering from addictions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Isn’t it a matter of personal responsibility?
While every able-bodied and mentally competent individual is responsible for their own health, there are other external variables at play that influence a person’s decision-making, such as systemic factors, available resources, finances, and mental health.
What about people who don’t have financial barriers or mental health barriers yet still make unhealthy choices?
A lack of motivation, lack of time, or procrastination are key factors at play in this scenario.
How can individuals make small, manageable changes to live healthier?
It’s always wise to start developing healthy habits to get your brain accustomed and trigger the reward system involving dopamine, such as exercising a certain number of times in a given week. Consult with a healthcare professional for personalized recommendations and advice.
What are bulimia and anorexia nervosa?
Both are classified as eating disorders. Bulimia nervosa involves consuming excessive food in a short period of time and then purging some of the food from the stomach voluntarily to reduce weight gain, such as via self-induced vomiting. Anorexia nervosa involves a reduction of food intake to reduce and prevent weight gain.
Works Cited:
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Statistics (facts about addiction). Resources for Addiction Rehabilitation & Recovery. (2024, December 31). https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-statistics-demographics
Backenddev. (2023, October 16). The peer pressure paradox: Navigating the psychology behind it. nCenter. https://ncenters.com/the-peer-pressure-paradox-navigating-the-psychology-behind-it/
Gotter, A. (2018, September 18). Anorexia vs. bulimia: Differences, symptoms, and treatments. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/eating-disorders/anorexia-vs-bulimia
Leshargie, C. T., Alebel, A., Kibret, G. D., Birhanu, M. Y., Mulugeta, H., Malloy, P., Wagnew, F., Ewunetie, A. A., Ketema, D. B., Aderaw, A., Assemie, M. A., Kassa, G. M., Petrucka, P., & Arora, A. (2019, October 11). The impact of peer pressure on cigarette smoking among high school and university students in Ethiopia: A systemic review and meta-analysis. PloS one. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6788683/
Madison Medical Associates. (2022, November 11). How your diet affects your ability to beat addiction. https://www.madisonmedicalassociates.com/posts/addiction/how-your-diet-affects-your-ability-to-beat-addiction/
Mennella, J. A., & Bobowski, N. K. (2015, December 1). The sweetness and bitterness of childhood: Insights from basic research on taste preferences. Physiology & behavior. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4654709/#:~:text=The%20research%20findings%20reviewed%20in,%2C%20poisonous%20plants%20%5B85%5D.
Pike, E. (2024, February 14). Eating disorder statistics 2025: Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating & ARFID. Eating Recovery Center. https://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/resources/eating-disorder-statistics
The Science of Addiction. Shatterproof. (n.d.). https://www.shatterproof.org/learn/addiction-basics/science-of-addiction#:~:text=It%20teaches%20our%20brains%20to,should%20be%20remembered%20and%20repeated.
University of Manchester. (2024, December 13). Study shows links between social media use, unhealthy lifestyles and teenage wellbeing. https://www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/social-media-use-unhealthy-lifestyles-and-teenage-wellbeing/#:~:text=In%20contrast%2C%20those%20who%20used,a%20young%20person’s%20health%20habits.
Weihmann, E. (2024, February 26). How discriminatory lending practices led to inadequate grocery access in black urban neighborhoods, and what we’re doing about it. The Food Trust. https://thefoodtrust.org/discriminatory-lending-inadequate-access/
Why stress causes people to overeat. Harvard Health. (2021, February 15). https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-stress-causes-people-to-overeat
Zhou, L., Nutakor, J. A., Larnyo, E., Addai-Dansoh, S., Cui, Y., Gavu, A. K., & Kissi, J. (2024, August 12). Exploring socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, and cardiometabolic disease outcomes in the United States: Insights from a population-based cross-sectional study - BMC public health. BioMed Central. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-024-19685-2
About David Martin, BA
I graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences and a Minor in Sociology. I am pursuing my master's in public health with a concentration in epidemiology from Benedictine University. As an aspiring epidemiologist, health researcher, and advocate, I seek to utilize my skills in conducting analytical research to influence health policy decision-making and preventative healthcare to achieve equitable health outcomes for everyone.
