Final answer:
The American way of life reflects a high standard of living with accessibility to various comforts and necessities. However, it also promotes a less active lifestyle and consumption of unhealthy meals, contributing to the rise of non-infectious diseases. Wealth inequality and health disparities among different groups also indicate challenges in providing necessary opportunities for all citizens to lead a healthy life.
Step-by-step explanation:
When evaluating the current American way of life, several observations can be made. This standard of living is reflected in the ability to access various material comforts and necessities, which include factors such as housing affordability, employment, and wealth distribution. Despite this, there are concerns that the American way of life may not provide the necessary opportunities for citizens to lead a healthy life.
The dizzying variety of food, comforts, and optimal health provisions available today in the United States would astound even the wealthiest individuals from the early 19th century. However, the prevalence of obesity as a problem among the poor, due to overconsumption and insufficient physical labor, highlights that higher living standards may not directly translate to healthier lifestyles.
The American lifestyle has facilitated access to technology and social environments that promote less active lifestyles and consumption of faster, cheaper, and typically less healthy meals. This shift contributes to higher rates of non-infectious diseases like heart disease and diabetes. The challenge is striking a balance between enjoying these advancements while making personal choices that favor health and longevity.
The inequality of wealth is also significant, with a small portion of the population holding a disproportionate amount of the nation's wealth, which is associated with better health and schooling. This, along with existing disparities in health outcomes among different racial and socioeconomic groups, indicates room for improvement in ensuring that the American way of life meets the minimum standards for individuals to enjoy good health and quality of life.