Fun Community Builders by Sarah Mafarjeh

Barriers to Healthy Decision-Making & Real-Life Application

sarahmafarjeh — 2025-10-08 05:01:22 UTC

Healthy decision-making is choosing actions that support your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It involves evaluating options, understanding consequences, and making choices that align with your goals and values.

- Emotional Barriers

sarahmafarjeh — 2025-10-08 05:01:22 UTC

High stress or anxiety can lead to impulsive or unhealthy choices.

“Stress can impair rational thinking and increase unhealthy behaviors like smoking or emotional eating.” — Donatelle, 2020

Health Literacy Gaps

sarahmafarjeh — 2025-10-08 05:01:22 UTC

Without the right information, it's hard to make informed health decisions.

📘 “Health literacy is essential to informed decision-making.” — Donatelle, 2020

Peer and Social Pressure

sarahmafarjeh — 2025-10-08 05:01:22 UTC

Friends, family, or culture can influence unhealthy habits like smoking, overeating, or avoiding medical help. “Social norms strongly influence individual health behaviors.” — Glanz, Rimer, & Viswanath, 2015

Limited Resources Or Environmental Barriers

sarahmafarjeh — 2025-10-08 05:01:22 UTC

If someone lives in an area without access to healthy food or safe exercise spaces, making healthy decisions becomes much harder. “Environmental context shapes health behavior.” — CDC, 2021

Real-Life Example- Thoughtful Health Decision: Prediabetes

sarahmafarjeh — 2025-10-08 05:01:22 UTC

My cousin was diagnosed with prediabetes. She followed a smart decision-making process:

✅ Identified the issue (diet & exercise)
✅ Gathered info (met a dietitian)
✅ Considered options (lifestyle vs meds)
✅ Made a plan (meal prep & daily walks)
✅ Saw improvement (A1C dropped in 3 months!)

Key Takeaways

sarahmafarjeh — 2025-10-08 05:01:22 UTC

✅ Emotional, social, and environmental factors can block healthy choices.
✅ Knowing the barriers helps us plan better.
✅ A thoughtful process can lead to real health improvements.

Sources Used

sarahmafarjeh — 2025-10-08 05:01:22 UTC

📘 Donatelle, R. J. (2020). Health: The Basics (13th ed.). Pearson.

📘 Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (2015). Health Behavior and Health Education (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.

🌐 CDC. (2021). Social Ecological Model. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov