The Hidden Health Cost of Wealth

Why Does More Money Bring More Illness? The Poor Laugh, While the Rich Bow Their Heads

1. From Campus Heartthrob to Middle-Aged Slump: The Unforgiving Toll of Success

Ten years after graduating, Niniyucao’s college friend—once a strikingly handsome and charismatic student leader—had transformed into an overweight, sluggish middle-aged man. Back in college, he was not just the vice president of the student union but also a campus icon, admired by many.

After graduation, life was tough. He struggled to find a well-paying job and even had to crash at Niniyucao’s place for a while, occasionally borrowing money just to get by. Every time they met, he would sigh, “Bro, when will I finally be rich?”

Years passed, and Niniyucao left Beijing while his friend stayed, grinding his way to success. When they reunited a decade later, the sight was shocking—his once-chiseled features buried under layers of fat, his youthful energy replaced by lethargy. He had finally “made it,” earning a six-figure salary, but at a grave cost: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease, and a deteriorating spine requiring surgery.

Seeing Niniyucao unchanged—neither overweight nor gaunt, still vibrant—his friend was astounded. “What’s your secret? Did you find some kind of elixir?”

Jokingly, Niniyucao replied, “I simply don’t have the money to let myself go. If you envy my physique, why not trade? Give me your wealth, and I’ll give you my health.”

His friend recoiled. “No way. I’d rather be sick than broke.”

And therein lies a stark reality: in today’s China, many grow wealthier only to find themselves falling apart physically. They chase prosperity, unaware that illness lurks in its shadow. But why does more money often lead to more disease? Let’s break it down.

2. Eating Without Limits: A Feast That Leads to Illness

When money is scarce, meals are simple—home-cooked, modest, and mindful of waste. Years of eating basic but nutritious food kept many of us healthy. But once wealth arrives, indulgence takes over. Nothing is off-limits—exotic meats, rare delicacies, expensive tonics—all consumed with reckless abandon.

A little indulgence is one thing, but feasting extravagantly every day wrecks the body. Overeating leads to digestive issues, obesity, and metabolic disorders. People, ironically, suffer from overnutrition yet still look for supplements to “boost” their health.

The shift to eating out worsens the problem. Home cooking is clean and controlled, but dining at restaurants or ordering takeout exposes people to excessive additives, questionable oils, and poor hygiene. The surge in stomach and colorectal cancer cases in China? A direct consequence of an overreliance on restaurant meals and takeout.

Take Niniyucao’s wealthy acquaintance, who struck it rich in the booming Dali tourism industry. He owned multiple properties but never cooked, opting instead for daily seafood feasts. Within two years, he developed gout, writhing in pain, swearing off shellfish.

And then there’s the social drinking—networking over extravagant meals, day after day, drowning in alcohol. Many stomach cancers are fueled by excessive drinking; liver cancer thrives on chronic alcoholism. Chinese society’s obsession with hosting and reciprocating lavish banquets? It’s costing lives.

3. Wealth Brings Arrogance, Stress, and Emotional Instability

Money changes people. Many who start from nothing remain humble, but as their bank accounts grow, so does their ego. They become impatient, aggressive, and quick to anger.

Previously respectful and composed, they now treat service workers with disdain, lash out at minor inconveniences, and expect the world to bend to their will. This unchecked arrogance fuels constant stress, which takes a devastating toll on health. Anger damages the liver, and prolonged stress fuels hypertension, heart disease, and even cancer.

One of Niniyucao’s friends admitted that her wealth turned her into an irritable person—snapping at taxi drivers, berating security guards, and arguing with family. The result? She developed breast hyperplasia and uterine fibroids, illnesses she now attributes to chronic stress.
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Wealth should bring confidence, but without inner peace, it breeds arrogance instead. The rising cases of entitled individuals causing public disturbances? A symptom of unchecked ego, born from material success.

4. The Late-Night Lifestyle: Chasing Wealth at the Cost of Health

More money often means more responsibilities, more ambitions, and more late nights. Some chase bigger profits—stocks by day, futures by night—running on caffeine and adrenaline. Others seek entertainment, partying until dawn because they can afford to.

One of Niniyucao’s friends made money in stocks but got greedy, diving into oil futures. Night after night, he stayed up trading, only to lose both his fortune and his health. By forty, he was unrecognizable—dark circles, gray hair, and deep wrinkles betraying his years.

Whether for work or pleasure, sleep deprivation is devastating. It depletes the body’s reserves, leading to chronic fatigue, weakened immunity, and early aging. The body can’t be fooled—burning the candle at both ends will eventually snuff it out.

5. Wealth and Indulgence: The Destruction of Vitality

With money comes temptation. Some lose themselves in excess—affairs, endless flings, and nights spent in luxury clubs.

Married individuals begin straying, single ones juggle multiple partners, convinced they’re living life to the fullest. But the truth? They’re burning out their life force.

Ancient wisdom warns that excessive indulgence depletes vitality. Chinese emperors, despite their immense power, rarely lived long—many fell victim to the consequences of unrestrained pleasure.

Yet, in modern times, people laugh at cautionary tales, labeling them “old-fashioned.” But health doesn’t lie. Overindulgence accelerates decline, and no amount of money can buy back lost vitality.

6. Can Money and Health Coexist?

Is there a way to have both wealth and well-being? Must success always come at the cost of health?

The answer lies in moderation. Lower your desires. Reflect daily: as my wealth grows, is my health, wisdom, and emotional stability growing too? If not, slow down.

Health must match ambition. Earn only as much as your body can sustain. There’s no rush—steady prosperity ensures both wealth and longevity.

As we reach middle age, it’s time to declutter—not just our possessions, but also our stress, excesses, and toxic habits. Only then can we truly enjoy a long and fulfilling life.

Truthfully, we don’t need as much money as we think. But this simple wisdom is hard for many to accept. Yet, it remains the ultimate truth.