Lifestyle (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what a lifestyle is, the origin of this concept and examples of both healthy and harmful lifestyles.

What is a lifestyle?

When we talk about lifestyle or living habits, we usually refer to a combination of tangible and intangible factors, that is, physical and psychological or cultural aspects that make up the way of life of an individual or a group of them.

In other words, it is a preference regarding the type of food consumed, activities performed and recurring habits, which define the way of life (the way of lifein English) of a person, or of a community.

It is a sociological concept that allows an approach to the ideas, values and behaviors of human communities. The concept emerged in the 1910s and is attributed to the Austro-Hungarian psychologist Alfred Adler (1870-1937), who initially defined it as “the system of rules of conduct developed by individuals to achieve their goals in life.” Nowadays, it is understood more as the chosen path to live.

The use of the concept became enormously popular after 1928. It was mainly associated with certain gastronomic idiosyncrasies (the Mediterranean lifestyle, the American lifestyle, etc.).

Consequently, at the end of the century, it also began to be associated with longevity and disease indices, to the point that today there is much debate about which habits are healthy or harmful for a healthy, long and active life, that is, , which are healthy lifestyles and which are harmful.

Healthy lifestyles

Although there is some room for debate regarding which foods and in what quantities or frequencies are healthy for the human body, doctors usually show a preference for certain eating styles and, above all, for their combination with certain physical activity schemes. Thus, there is more or less consensus regarding what a healthy lifestyle is, and it implies maintaining:

A balanced diet that is, eating foods from all groups of the nutritional pyramid, in adequate proportions and in portions only sufficient to sustain us without losing weight, but without gaining it either. This means that we must consume 30-40 kilocalories per day of weight daily, according to the following distribution: 50-55% carbohydrates, 15-20% monounsaturated fats (and 5% polyunsaturated fats and no more than 7-8% saturated) and 10% protein. This includes the intake of 20-25 grams of plant fiber daily.
A physical exercise routine which generally involves 30 minutes a day of physical activity that allows you to burn excess energy (fat) and strengthen muscles and bones.
Good personal hygiene which covers body washing, hand washing (especially before eating), oral and dental hygiene, and hygiene of the environment in which we live. These conditions will help us get sick less frequently.
An enriching social life that is, cultivating affections and friendships, loves and companionship, given that we are gregarious animals, so acceptance and belonging are very powerful feelings within our psyche. The need for a minimum of social life to lead a healthy existence has been more than demonstrated.
A stable emotional and psychological life for which communication, psychotherapy if necessary, and avoiding situations or substances that disturb mental health are important.

Harmful lifestyles

Just as there are healthy lifestyles, there are also harmful lifestyles that threaten health, and that can lead us to a shorter existence, more plagued by illnesses and ailments. In general, harmful lifestyles include:

Little varied diets composed of a single or few ingredients from different groups, especially when that means eating large amounts of fats (especially polyunsaturated or saturated), large amounts of sugars and carbohydrates and, in general, abundant red meat. This type of diet is linked to the early onset of obesity, diabetes and cancer. However, a diet that is too austere can also lead to anemia or vitamin deficiency.
sedentary life that is, total and prolonged lack of exercise, which promotes the accumulation of fat, weakens muscle tissues and further complicates the consequences of a poor diet. Hypertension and obesity are directly linked to a sedentary lifestyle.
Excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption among other substances with a harmful impact on the body, whose connection with the disease is amply proven. Smoking is not only a factor in cancer and coronary heart disease, but also a destroyer of the oral mucosa; while alcoholism ruins liver cells and contributes to aging. Not to mention illegal drugs, whose effect on life is disastrous, given their addictive component.
Lack of hygiene both physically, dentally and in relation to the environment, since this encourages the appearance of diseases and contributes to the deterioration of living conditions. This is a particularly important factor in countries with poor public service infrastructure, as is often the case in the so-called third world.
Social isolation because being gregarious animals, humans wither in loneliness and the absence of significant social contacts: love, friendship, fraternity, etc. In the words of the English thinker John Donne, “no man is an island.”
chronic stress often referred to as the “silent killer”, does not seem to have a major impact on people's quality of life, but in the long run a lifestyle with high and sustained levels of stress affects hypertension and causes problems such as insomnia. , which in turn have negative consequences on the psyche and metabolism.