findings suggest that health recommendations are more effective when they disregard climate considerations.
Transformed Article:
Talkin' 'bout Health and Climate: A Game Changer in Medical Consultations?
Yeah, you read that right. A study from the University Medicine Halle and the University of Heidelberg reveals that a balanced approach to health and planetary wellbeing could be a game-changer in medical consultations. But here's the catch—not everyone's on board with that idea.
So, what's the story? Well, it turns out that most folks are more receptive to health advice that focuses on personal benefits without throwing in extra climate arguments. This is according to a study published in "The Lancet Planetary Health." It's all about communication, especially when it comes to political orientations and attitudes towards climate change.
"In a medical consult about lifestyle, it's smart to highlight both the individual health perks and the positive environmental impacts," says Prof. Dr. Eva Kantelhardt, head of the AG Global Health at the University Medicine Hale and the last author of the study. "You'd think the additional climate talk would help motivated folks to implement health recommendations, but it ain't always the case."
To find out what's really going on, the researchers used the online panel "HeReCa" of the University Medicine Halle. Around 1,500 people from five federal states participated in the study. They got presented with three scenarios, each focusing on either exercise or nutrition. Scenarios highlighted health benefits, climate benefits, and even health risks due to climate change such as heatwaves.
The results are interesting. Scenarios that focused exclusively on personal health benefits got the highest acceptance with an average of 4.09 out of 5 possible points. Scenarios that also mentioned climate benefits and risks scored slightly lower with 3.5 points. The differences were more prominent among folks who are skeptical about climate change or politically conservative. In those groups, climate messages led to a significant drop in acceptance of medical recommendations.
But here's the twist— among those concerned about climate change, the inclusion of climate benefits and risks mattered less, and their ratings didn't crash as hard. So, it seems that tailoring communication based on individual values is the key to promoting personal health and planetary protection.
Prof. Kantelhardt adds that focusing on health benefits alone can still aid in achieving climate goals. Diets with fewer animal products and more plant-based protein sources, and active mobility through walking or biking for short distances are both beneficial for the Earth and our health, even if they're implemented for health reasons only.
So, why bother with climate messages at all? Prof. Kantelhardt emphasizes that climate aspects are still legit health perks that most folks accept. Although climate-related advice wasn't as well-received, almost as many participants in the study recommended a doctor who provided comprehensive information on climate benefits and risks as one who focused solely on health aspects. By tailoring communication, it's possible to consider both acceptance and climate arguments. The topic is gaining traction among medical professionals, medical associations, and the Federal Ministry of Health.
- The study at the University Medicine Halle and University of Heidelberg suggests that incorporating climate change discussions into medical consultations could be a game-changer, but this idea is not universally accepted.
- According to a study published in "The Lancet Planetary Health", individuals are more receptive to health advice that focuses primarily on personal benefits rather than including additional climate arguments.
- Eva Kantelhardt, Professor at the University Medicine Hale and the last author of the study, suggests that during a medical consult about lifestyle, it's strategic to highlight both the individual health benefits and the positive environmental impacts.
- The researchers found that scenarios focusing exclusively on personal health benefits received the highest acceptance, compared to scenarios that also included climate benefits and risks. However, among those concerned about climate change, the inclusion of climate benefits and risks mattered less.
