Author Biography

Annaka is a freshman at USU studying Data Science. She is the oldest of 6 kids and loves history, math, reading, skiing, and traveling.

This essay was composed in April 2024 and uses MLA documentation.

Imagine living in a place that promotes work-life balance, where the government values its citizens’ health and wellness over convenience for large corporations and other entities. This would be a place where known carcinogens and harmful chemicals are not allowed in foods, weekly work hours are restricted, time for employees’ personal lives are protected, and healthcare is accessible and reliable. Does this sound out of reach? Too much of a Utopia? Perhaps for citizens of the United States (US) it might, but in most European countries, this is the norm that is upheld and protected by individual governments and the European Union (EU). If this “utopia” is already being modeled in the EU – although I’m not claiming the EU is perfect – surely the US can work towards implementing similar standards. This is why I believe that the US needs to close the significant gap in health, wellness, and quality of life between Europe and the US through the implementation and revision of regulations and laws, based on scientific findings.

When we first think about “health and wellness” most people might not immediately think of the significant impact that government policy has in the realm of citizen’s health. Steven Woolf, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of family health and population health, astutely points out that change in America’s health is driven by policy in all social welfare realms, even beyond health care – from education and economic stability to neighborhoods and the environment. In his career, Woolf has actively sought to bring awareness to policymakers and the public regarding these overlooked drivers of health. His key research and knowledge in preventative health centers around the idea that health is rooted in and goes beyond more than medical care. Health education, socioeconomic status, air quality, and so many other things play into an individual’s well-being and overall health (Woolf). By addressing health at these root causes through policy, a more proactive and effective approach in improving citizens’ health is taken. Rather than simply treating poor health, more can be done by taking preventative measures through policy in various realms that affect well-being and health. By preventing poor health circumstances in the first-place through targeting drivers of health, prevalent health issues within the US, such as obesity, can decrease. For instance, Kirsten Weir, a writer with over two decades of experience in health focused journalism, discusses the issue of the “health-wealth gap” in the US – the difference in health between those of lower vs higher socioeconomic status. She cites Nancy Adler, PhD, director of the Center for Health and Community at the University of California, who emphasizes that “top-down policy” is the best way to begin implementing change to close the “health-wealth gap” that results in health disparities between socioeconomic groups (Weir). A top-down approach for closing this gap looks like addressing systematic inequality amongst disadvantaged groups and minimizing, or altogether removing, this inequality through policy, resulting in an overall healthier population across all groups. Nick Buffie, whose research focuses in part on unemployment, healthcare reform, and labor policy, along with Lara Merling, a PhD student with a particular interest in analyzing policy implications, note an example of a policy change within the US that has led to positive change in not only healthcare, but also work-life balance: the Affordable Care Act (ACA). According to Buffie and Merling, the ACA is a step towards more universal healthcare and has led to more people opting for part-time employment which in turn suggests a step towards better work-life balance in the US (Buffie and Merling). The ACA makes healthcare more accessible to people of varying levels of employment, which means citizens feel that they can opt for part-time employment without being too concerned about their health coverage costs. With part-time employment, citizens are able to have more time set aside for their personal lives and time to put towards their overall wellbeing. Whether that entails building relationships, seeking mental health solutions, or simply having time to cook wholesome and nourishing meals, part-time employment provides more opportunities for a harmonious work-life balance and subsequent wellness benefits. Another example of the effect policy has on health is noted by Roni Caryn Rabin, a health reporter for the New York Times. She remarks on a flaw in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 1958 amendment that prevents food additives linked to cancer, but still allows any additives previously approved before then (Rabin). This FDA amendment is only one example of notably significant issues in policy. Because the FDA, governed by US policy, does not reevaluate the safety of outdated rulings on the safety of many food additives, for decades US citizens may have been and continue to be facing severe health repercussions. This hole in FDA policy is potentially harming US citizens’ health as they consume foods with potential carcinogens because food additives approved prior to 1958 were considered safe by default and are still allowed, never having been reevaluated. This is in high contrast to the food regulations found in Europe.

This leads me to introduce another point of health concern: the US allows many food additives, chemicals, pesticides, known carcinogens, food colorings, etc. that the EU does not; food regulation in the EU vs the US is significantly different.  Jennifer Shore, Executive Director of Focus For Health Foundation remarks on a dangerous flaw in the US system: to an extent, US companies can decide for themselves what is safe to put into our food (Shore). Provisions, like this one in US policy, work to the advantage of companies. In the interest of business, most companies will do what is best for their profits and convenience rather than seriously consider the health implications of the chemicals being allowed in their products. This flaw in policy also may be a reason for the more lenient regulation in the US compared to the EU. In contrast, in the EU there are advisory boards of experts that review food additives and chemicals before giving educated advice to policy makers in the EU.  Shore also points out that the US produces healthier versions of products to sell overseas which presents a double standard: US companies will go out of the way for the EU and their health standards, but will not be bothered to do the same in the best interest of citizens of their own country. Aforementioned New York Times reporter, Roni Caryn Rabin, examines some of the chemicals allowed in the US but not in the EU and their health implications. These include: Potassium bromate and azodicarbonamide (ADA), BHA and BHT, and Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO). The EU also puts warnings on foods that contain certain food dyes because of their adverse effect on children, but the US does not (Rabin). Due to these potentially harmful chemicals and additives being allowed within the US along with other gaps in health and wellness in the country, it is not surprising that health and life-expectancy are declining.

According to various sources and collections of data, the US has overall worse health than comparatively developed countries in the EU as well as a concerningly lower life expectancy. A team composed of professionals, all with educational background in public health, agree there is a widening gap in life expectancy at birth between the US and other countries, and both mortality rates and hospital admittance rates for congestive heart failure are significantly higher in the US than in comparable countries (Telesford et. al). Steven Woolf also notes that the health of US citizens is getting progressively worse, as evident in the fact that the US ranked 46th in life expectancy in the world in 2018 (Woolf). As a first-world country, it is extremely unnerving that the US is falling behind significantly in life-expectancy. With the technology, education, and modern medicine that is available and prevalent within the US, it would be anticipated by most that longevity within our country would be much better. Additionally, a group of professors, led by an expert in health economics, cite research that shows the US has the highest spending on healthcare but is falling behind in life-expectancy. Furthermore, these researchers have gathered evidence and there are calculated financial benefits to improved health in the US so any perceived costs are outweighed overall (Michaud et. al). This calculated financial benefit is yet another reason why both US citizens and government officials should take steps to improve health and wellness amongst the US population. Poor health is impacted by medical costs, so if these costs can be minimized through improved health, changes in policy that support the improvement of health within the US should be a large priority. Even more alarming evidence regarding health in the US is presented by Kirsten Weir, who clearly states that US citizens are worse off health wise regardless of their socioeconomic class than citizens in most of Western Europe. In connection with this, researchers with expertise in social epidemiology say that healthcare is more accessible to all in the EU in comparison to the US (Avendano et al.). This large difference in accessible healthcare likely contributes to the vast health-wealth gap between the US and the EU, which is notably immense and significantly affects citizens’ health. If citizens across all social classes, ethnic, and racial groups do not have equal accessibility to healthcare, health across those groups will be subsequently worse.

As previously noted, there is a larger disparity in health for minority and lower income groups in the US than the EU. One group of researchers mention that there is a disproportion in maternal mortality rates across racial, age, and socioeconomic groups in the US as well as very high rates of people missing health consultations due to cost (Telesford et al.). This finding suggests that the cost of healthcare in the nation contributes to the disparity in health between different marginalized groups. Kirsten Weir adds further to this point and states that there are higher rates of poverty and income inequality in the US than other wealthy countries which “undermines our health in a multitude of ways” (Weir). Collectively, these disparities in health amongst minority and lower socioeconomic groups emphasizes the need for policy reform surrounding healthcare accessibility in the US. The health of individuals not only impacts their own lives and capabilities but also effectively trickles into the contributions these individuals are able to give at work and in society. As a whole, the US is declining in health which can only mean a decline in several other areas. Health is a root issue in the US; if it is not seriously addressed through reform and implementation of policy, a cascading wave of negative consequences are bound to follow, as evident by the trickle and flow of social and health impacts we are already beginning to see. In further support of the claim that there is a disparity in health between the US and EU across lower income groups, researchers write that “American adults are less healthy than Europeans at all wealth levels. The poorest Americans experience the greatest disadvantage relative to Europeans.” (Avendano et al.). Extremely concerning, perhaps more so than the disparity in health within the US, is the fact that even the wealthiest Americans are less healthy than nearly all Europeans, regardless of their financial status. This statement upholds Kirsten Weir’s and points to the need for greater equality in healthcare for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Equality in healthcare can be achieved through policy change and reformation within the US. Steven Woolf also emphasizes that US policy has “placed the burden of poor health disproportionately on […] marginalized groups” (Woolf). Yet again, Woolf’s statements point back to the importance of good policy surrounding health as well as the fact that current US policy is upholding the imbalance in health amongst socioeconomic, ethnic, racial, and other groups. If this imbalance can be eliminated, the US will be one step closer towards an overall healthier population by elevating equality in healthcare and accessibility for everyone.

Previously mentioned was how Buffie and Merling have found that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped improve work-life balance in the US as more people have been able to transition into working part-time. This fact leads to support my final claim: paid time off (PTO) is higher in the EU vs the US, and work life balance is better in the EU overall. The Berkley Economic Review (BER) staff cite that the EU mandates 4 weeks of paid vacation where, in contrast, the US requires none. They also mention that even employees who don’t take all of their PTO but are allowed unlimited PTO, report better work-life balance (Zhang). The BER staff’s findings indicate that mandated PTO in the US would improve worker satisfaction and perceived work-life balance. Consequently, mandated PTO would potentially lead to higher employee retention since workers would feel more satisfied with their work-life balance being upheld and feel overall happier. Additionally, Nick Buffie and Lara Merling state that the EU encourages part-time work arrangements and has passed legislation to ensure both part and full-time employees are treated equally in benefits and assignments (Buffie and Merling). Once more, Buffie’s and Merling’s findings reinforce the importance of policy in health and work-life balance. Both US and/or company policy in this realm could contribute to the protection of work-life balance for citizens. US policy would however be the more absolute policy of the two since companies are subject to change their policy at their own discretion. Harvard scholars note, “In the early seventies hours worked per person were about the same in the U.S. and in Western Europe (Europe in short). Today they are almost 50 per cent less in Europe than in the U.S.” (Alesina et al.). The difference in average hours worked per person in the US vs Europe is significantly different, which may indicate why work-life balance is better in the EU than the US – EU citizens’ time is split more evenly between their personal lives and work lives. Perhaps, shorter work weeks within the US could also contribute to an improved work-life balance amongst American citizens. Rest is important so workers do not face burnout and so they can therefore work more efficiently and happily. If companies and the US government care about workers’ wellbeing, then relationships and respect within these structures could also be improved as an added benefit to the increased health and wellbeing that would be experienced.

Some might argue that the US is very successful economically and should not give workers more PTO or shorter work weeks because of concern that the US economy might suffer. However, the BER staff have found in their research that there is no correlation between PTO and productivity. Woolf addresses the concern of prioritizing citizens’ health and potential economic consequences when he states declining health in the US is concerning “[…] because a decline in the nation’s health has ripple effects—on the economy, workforce productivity, health care costs, the fitness of military recruits, and national security” (Woolf). Contrary to the belief that the costs of health are too heavy, they are actually well-worthwhile since benefits outweigh the costs and even more so, the consequences of letting health in the US continue on a decline. As touched on by Woolf, the health of our nation negatively impacts the economy and workforce productivity. This cost of not only citizens’ health, but also a decline in productivity and the economy further demonstrates that health is a root issue that needs to be addressed within the US. Another counterargument food-lovers might make is that restricting harmful food additives will limit the foods that many people enjoy and may hurt companies. However, as Jennifer Shore said, the US produces healthier products for other countries already, so why can’t companies do it for their own country? The responsibility for healthier food rests on the FDA and the companies that produce these food products. It should not be an issue to have healthier food products in the US if they are already being produced for countries overseas. In fact, higher-quality food should be a large priority when it comes to considering the shortcomings of health within the US. The foods we consume have a substantial impact on individuals health and are one of many areas we can make improvements to through policy that would positively impact health and wellbeing for the population.

In summary, the benefits of improved health and work-life balance in the US are sweeping, especially since health is a root issue. With improved healthcare accessibility and equity, food regulations, work-life balance, and policy to uphold these improvements, citizens will have increased longevity, improved happiness and satisfaction, and economic benefits. Conversely, if the issue of health and work-life balance fails to be seriously addressed within the US, consequences include higher mortality rates, an overall sicker and more disabled population (due to chronic conditions), increase in cancer due to ignored carcinogens in food, and an increased gap between minority and socioeconomic groups in health and subsequently fostered animosity. As highlighted, so much hangs in the balance when it comes to improving health in the US. The first steps towards improved health starts with individual citizens. I would urge all individuals to raise awareness to the issue of health within our nation by reaching out to their representatives at local, state, and national levels. The government has the power to implement policy that can effectively address health and wellness within the US. Policy has rippling effects, for better or worse, so individuals need to use their voice to push for policy that favors our nation’s health. This policy might include, but is not limited to, Universal Healthcare, mandated PTO, FDA amendments, health education and prevention policy, and policy that is mindful of being non-discriminatory towards various groups. I would encourage individuals to consider their own health as well as the health of their loved ones and to proactively address this concern by raising their voice and taking advantage of our precious democracy. The US needs to close the significant gap in health, wellness, and quality of life between Europe and the US through the implementation and revision of regulations and laws, and you can contribute by pushing for these revisions, regulations, and laws.

Works Cited

Alesina, Alberto, et al. “Work and Leisure in the U.S. and Europe: Why so Different?” Scholars at Harvard, June 2005, scholar.harvard.edu/files/alesina/files/work_and_leisure_in_the_u.s._and_europe.pdf. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

Avendano, Mauricio, et al. “Health Disadvantage in US Adults Aged 50 to 74 Years: A Comparison of the Health of Rich and Poor Americans with That of Europeans.” American Journal of Public Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2661456/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

Buffie, Nick, and Lara Merling. “US vs. Europe: Which Has the Best Work-Life Balance?” World Economic Forum, 15 Nov. 2016, www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/11/us-vs-europe-which-has-the-best-work-life-balance/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

Michaud, Pierre-Carl, et al. “Differences in Health between Americans and Western Europeans: Effects on Longevity and Public Finance.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2 June 2011, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3383030/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

Rabin, Roni Caryn. “What Foods Are Banned in Europe but Not Banned in the U.S.?” New York Times, 1 Jan. 2019, p. D4(L). Gale OneFile: News, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A567903346/STND?u=utah_gvrl&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=4f17bf8e. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

Shore, Jennifer. “The American Food Supply: Not Fit for European Consumption.” Focus for Health, 28 May 2019, www.focusforhealth.org/the-american-food-supply-not-fit-for-european-consumption/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

Telesford, Imani, et al. “How Does the Quality of the U.S. Health System Compare to Other Countries?” Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, 23 Oct. 2023, www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/quality-u-s-healthcare-system-compare-countries/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

Weir, Kirsten. “The Health-Wealth Gap.” American Psychological Association, Monitor on Psychology, Oct. 2013, www.apa.org/monitor/2013/10/health-wealth. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

Woolf, Steven. “Social and Economic Policies Can Help Reverse Americans’ Declining Health.” Center for American Progress, 7 Oct. 2021, www.americanprogress.org/article/social-economic-policies-can-help-reverse-americans-declining-health/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.

Zhang, Felix. “Live to Work or Work to Live? Work Culture in the U.S. versus Europe.” Berkeley Economic Review, BER Staff, 17 Nov. 2023, econreview.berkeley.edu/live-to-work-or-work-to-live-work-culture-in-the-u-s-versus-europe/. Accessed 10 Apr. 2024.