ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Health consumerism

Health consumerism is all about being a smart shopper when it comes to your health. You know how your parents take you to the grocery store to buy food and they always encourage you to choose the healthier options? Think of health consumerism that way, but for everything related to your health, not just food.

It means you need to pay attention to what you’re buying, make smart decisions, and not just go with the first thing you see or what other people tell you to do. Like when you go to buy a snack, you look at the ingredients and make sure there isn’t too much sugar or unhealthy stuff. With health consumerism, it’s the same thing but for your medical treatments and procedures.

To be a health consumer, you want to know what options are available to you, what they cost, and what the potential benefits and risks are. For example, if a doctor recommends a certain medicine or procedure, you may want to do some research to make sure it’s the best choice for you before spending money on it.

Being a health consumer also involves taking care of yourself to prevent health problems from happening in the first place. This includes eating healthy, getting enough exercise, and going for regular check-ups with your doctor.

So in summary, health consumerism means being a smart shopper when it comes to your health, just like you are when you’re buying food at the grocery store. You want to make sure you’re choosing the best options for your health and not just going with the first thing you see or what other people tell you to do.