Experts advise carefully assessing one’s health condition before choosing any wellness or treatment methods to avoid blindly following trends.
The term “fragile” suggests being easily broken or delicate. Describing some of today’s young people as “fragile” has become a topic of societal discussion in recent years. This characterization is closely tied to unhealthy lifestyles some young people adopt and their active participation in wellness practices, even as they engage in potentially harmful behaviors.
In the past, farmers worked hard planting and harvesting crops, and many workers performed strenuous physical labor, leading to conditions like lumbar muscle strain, joint injuries, and herniated discs at a young age. Occupational diseases from physical injuries were also common.
In the current internet era, mental labor and mechanical operations have gradually replaced physical labor, reducing health issues related to physical exertion. However, new problems like obesity, decreased physical fitness, and the early onset of age-related diseases have emerged. Each generation faces its own health challenges due to changes in work and lifestyle, but this does not mean that today’s young people are less healthy than previous generations. Therefore, “fragile” should not be a blanket label for all young people based on surface appearances or individual experiences.
Over the past decade, health sector has made significant progress. Key health indicators are among the best in middle- and high-income countries, with marked improvements in life expectancy and maternal mortality rates. The pass rate for the national physical fitness standard reached 90.4% in 2020, a significant increase.
Meanwhile, the incidence of chronic, occupational, and endemic diseases has shown a downward trend. Young people, as the healthiest and most vibrant group, play a crucial role in improving health metrics.
It is also important to note that promoting and popularizing traditional medicine (TCM) has been a focus of recent healthcare reforms. By the end of 2022, 87.78% of county-level healthcare institutions offered TCM services, and nearly all community health service centers and township health centers provided such services.
By 2025, all community health service centers and township health centers will have TCM clinics, and over 80% of village clinics will offer at least six TCM techniques. With increasing coverage and higher reimbursement rates for TCM services, practices like massage, Tuina, moxibustion, and scraping therapy have become more widespread. Young people’s curiosity and sensitivity to new trends make their embrace of TCM wellness practices a reflection of their adaptability and trendsetting behavior.
While recognizing the benefits and influence of young people’s varied wellness practices, we must also address the health issues they face today, particularly those arising from prolonged sitting, lack of exercise, staying up late, excessive smartphone use, and frequent consumption of fast food.
Societal prevention and treatment measures should adapt to the changing health landscape, promoting healthy lifestyles and workplace health protections. Individuals should focus on maintaining their health, avoid following trends blindly, emphasize prevention, and tailor personalized health promotion strategies. This approach ensures a rational response to new health threats and allows society to objectively analyze and understand the varied wellness practices of young people.
