HLTB22 Reflection I
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University of Toronto, Scarborough *
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HLTB22H3
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Health Science
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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HLTB22 REFLECTION I: INTERNAL AGENCY
HLTB22 Reflection I: Internal Agency
Sarah Phen
Student Number: 1004115290
University of Toronto Scarborough
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HLTB22 REFLECTION I: INTERNAL AGENCY
HLTB22 Reflection I: Internal Agency
Throughout my life, I have been trying to prioritize a healthy diet, improve my level of physical activity and get an adequate amount of sleep. It is important to have a balanced diet to make sure the body receives the necessary nutrients. I should eat more fruits and dairy products as I do not eat enough foods from these food groups. I am also slightly underweight and I need to eat more to get to the normal weight range and reduce my risk of certain chronic diseases. Moreover, I became less active as I got older because playing on my phone and laptop replaced my more active hobbies, such as walking in the park. At the start of the school year though, I made a goal to go to the gym weekly. Finally, I have noticed that when I get insufficient sleep, I start falling asleep in class and my attention span decreases. It makes it difficult to carry out daily tasks, so I aim to get the minimum required hours of sleep each night.
These experiences relate to the concept of internal agency. It is similar to car maintenance as it involves taking care of the body (Ezezika, 2018). This is the most important category of health because most people die of chronic diseases nowadays, and internal agency influences the development of those diseases (Ezezika, 2018). Internal agency can affect whether you get heart disease, arthritis, type II diabetes and other conditions (Ezezika, 2018). Furthermore, the environment interacts with the body through fuel, which refers to diet (Ezezika, 2018). It is important to be mindful of what I eat as the right nutrients help the body function, while junk food is poor quality fuel that can add excess sugar or fat. The environment also influences the body with energy as too much activity stresses the body, while a sedentary lifestyle can also cause the body, especially the muscles, to deteriorate (Bortz, 2005). After learning about the negative effects of disuse of the body, I feel more motivated to exercise
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HLTB22 REFLECTION I: INTERNAL AGENCY
regularly. My goal of getting enough sleep is relevant too as sleep is another significant factor of internal agency. Having adequate sleep makes people feel refreshed and it enables them to function effectively throughout the day. Since sedentary behaviour is fairly common now due to the heavy use of electronics among the younger generation, schools and community centres should promote and implement fitness programs. Research can be conducted to see if these programs lead youth to
be active regularly. Another idea is that schools can promote getting a full night’s sleep everyday to improve productivity and healthy functioning. As well, local governments should ensure that communities have access to affordable, healthy food in order for people to feed their bodies the right fuel. Overall, it is clear that internal agency affects everyone in their daily lives and I must keep my lifestyle and habits in check to live a long and healthy life.
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HLTB22 REFLECTION I: INTERNAL AGENCY
References
Bortz, W. M. (2005).
Biological Basis of Determinants of Health. American Journal of Public
Health, 95
(3), 389-392. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2003.033324 Ezezika, O. (2018). Session I: Biological basis for the determinants of health Scientific Method
[PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://q.utoronto.ca/courses/54139/files/1221815?module_item_id=311065