All too many teenagers are so involved with school, friends and having fun they never stop to think about their health. These teens may feel good now because they are young and in a good state of health, but later on in life, the ramifications of an unhealthy lifestyle may include serious health problems.
The Facts
What you eat now can greatly affect your future health. The amount of physical activity you do, or don't do, can also affect your health. According to the Weight-Control Information Network, an information service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, youths who weigh more than is considered to be healthy have a higher chance of getting illnesses such as diabetes (type 2) and heart disease. Almost 18 percent of teenagers living in the United States in 2003 were above normal weight.
Significance
Educating teens on fitness and nutrition can help them to make wise decisions when it comes to their health. Teenagers who do not know the proper way to lose weight may fall into unhealthy habits, such as abstaining from eating and eliminating nutritious foods from their diet in an effort to shed pounds. Some may even develop eating disorders, take diet medications or take up smoking to help them lose weight. These are all unhealthy practices that can be harmful to a child's physical and emotional well-being.
Fitness
Being active physically is just as important as eating a healthy diet. Exercise in any form can help a teenager lose weight or keep weight under control. Physical exercise can also help strengthen bones and lessen a teenager's chance of developing diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, according to the NIDDK. Exercise is beneficial for emotional health as well, and can have a positive effect on a child's performance in the classroom.
Nutrition
Eating healthfully can help a teenager perform better physically and mentally. Good nutrition is necessary for better performance, and proper nutrition involves consuming adequate amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. Proper and adequate nutrition is especially important for teens, whose bodies are in a growing stage. Teens' bodies need the building blocks that come from eating a balanced diet. Nutritious foods also supply the body with energy. A healthy diet can aid in the development of a healthy body and mind.
Prevention/Solution
Teens should eat whole grain foods, a variety of vegetables and fruits, and unsaturated fats (6 tsp. a day, at most), 3 cups of calcium-rich foods daily and high-protein foods that are low in fat. Determine how many calories you should eat a day by typing in information about yourself at MyPyramid.gov (see Resources). Avoid food from fast-food restaurants, but if you do wind up at a fast-food eatery, order more balanced meals. Be active for at least an hour every day by doing some form of exercise. Walk, run, dance or engage in a sport such as volleyball, tennis, swimming, bicycle riding or basketball.
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