The Irish Medical Times - The ripple effect: the unexpected path to well-being
However, the ban may not come to pass as it is reported that business owners fear a loss in revenue. But what if we stopped thinking about the bottom line and started thinking about the business of staying alive?
Activists are often quick to point out the health drawbacks to policies, but should we examine plans to see if they could have an unexpected health benefit?
There are already some existing policies that are having well known positive side effects - clean air and water not only provides a nicer environment it means a reduction in lung and waterborne disease, no smoking laws were designed to protect non smokers but resulted in a decrease in smoking rates overall, and taxes on sugary drinks intended to fight obesity also saw a concomitant drop in diabetes.
Stopping vices, and generally cleaning up, is always going to have some positive fallout, but what about the unexpected happy surprises (akin to biting into a Kitkat and finding out it's all chocolate no wafer). We may have to employ some joined up thinking to see the unintended positive consequence for public well-being.
For example, the seat belt mandate was implemented to prevent ejection from the vehicle and to spread the crash forces across the stronger bony parts of the body. Subsequently, a study in South Korea of motor vehicle collisions showed an association between wearing a seat belt in a crash and a reduced risk of an immediate cardiac arrest. Increased minimum wage intended to boost the workers income can also reduce stress and improve access to healthcare. Even an investment in public transportation can promote an increase in physical activity as more people use the transport, therefore an increase in walking or biking to bus stops or train stations.
On a day to day level, certain private enterprise plans and products with a specific goal can sometimes have a ripple effect on public health in unforeseen ways.
A good example is grocery delivery services or meal kit subscriptions. They are aimed at people’s convenience but they are increasingly becoming a market for regular meal planning and nutritious healthier eating.
Corporate work spaces are often more than a place to work. Workplace wellness programmes devised to reduce employee sick days, can sometimes incentivize healthy habits like exercise or health eating. Although it can become a peer pressured competition with tuts and tsks for those who opt out.
Wearable tech is not just for training or catastrophizing, it can raise health awareness and motivate people. It is almost omnipresent at this point. Last week in a doctor's waiting room I clocked a very elderly lady sitting across from me wearing the exact same smart watch as me. I didn’t pay much heed until my daughter whispered in my ear “Look Mum, you’re twins with that old lady”. Nice.
I am reluctant to give social media any kudos, to quote my husband - social media is the smoking of this generation. He feels we are letting it go by, relatively unchecked, and years from now we will look back and ask why on earth did we let young people go near it. That said, something that frequently goes viral on socials are fitness challenges. Though not always appropriate, some of the more manageable ones, especially with a charity twist, can spark a sustained interest in exercise or healthy living/giving among the younger generation.
Whether it is a government policy or a company’s product, the unintended consequences on public health can be both positive and negative. We can’t ignore the negatives, and those who oppose the policy/product will gladly do the homework and highlight the downsides as widely as they can. However, the unexpected benefits are often overlooked, unless they drive another source of revenue or unexptected goodwill.
I urge policymakers and corporations to think holistically and look for the greater good in what they do.
Sometimes the ripple effect is more than a topping on your favourite Italian ice cream.
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