Nutrition, Physical Activity and Weight - Essay Example

Nutrition, Physical Activity and Weight: Preventative medicine for teenagers of the Health sciences and medicine of the September 4, 2012 Nutrition, physical activity and weight 1 Discuss what you think are the important health messages based on the best available evidence. 2 How you would make this relevant to the teenage target audience. Nutrition, physical activity and weight Introduction Obesity is rampant in Australian teenagers. Estimates put the proportion of obese children at one-third of all children by the year 2020 (MODI, 2012) .It has been proven time and again that physical activity, combined with optimal nutrition and maintenance of a healthy weight, lowers the risk of acute and chronic lifestyle diseases like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and heart disease, depression and cancers. Thus, promotion of physical activity and nutrition has been one of the key tasks of all preventive and health promotion agencies and policies. Important evidence-based health messages that should be delivered in a health education and promotion activity, as relevant to the target audience of adolescents and teenagers have been discussed. Why teenagers and adolescents should be targeted? Obese teenagers grow up in to obese adults (Sherry, 2005). Evidence strongly supports the benefits of interventions and programmes aimed at childhood obesity (Waters et al, 2011). School based programs which have focussed on physical activity, nutrition and behavioural changes have been reported to cause an increase in physical activity as well as a decrease in Body Mass Index (BMI) (Kropski, Keckley & Jensen, 2008). It has been found that health education and interventions for promoting physical activity in school children have been effective due to their mandatory nature (Heath et al, 2012). What are the evidence-based health messages? Nutrition Evidence based messages to promote healthy nutrition in adolescents should target food groups, snacks, meals, fast food and beverages. Teenagers should ensure that their diet contains a variety of foods such as grains, meat, poultry, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and nuts to accommodate their growth requirements of minerals, vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Daily 5 servings of fruits and vegetables are recommended (Sherry, 2005). Energy dense-nutrient poor foods such as fried potato chips, biscuits and cakes lead to a lower intake of fruits and vegetables and are more likely to be associated with consumption of other energy dense-nutrient poor foods like colas (Innes-Hughes et al, 2011). Energy drinks and soft drinks should be consumed in limited quantity because of their high caffeine and sugar content. Current research suggests that reducing consumption of sugar sweetened and carbonated drinks can help in obesity prevention (James & Kerr, 2005). Instead, water intake should be increased. They should be taught to read the labels before consuming packaged and processed foods regarding calories, fat and sodium content of the product and choose accordingly and wisely. Also, difference in home cooked and processed food can be explained and reasons for ‘eating out’ analysed. Physical activity Adolescents should be explained about the benefits of staying physically active and how it can be achieved. Teenagers should be encouraged to take part in sports and other physical activities at school. Apart from school interventions, it’s difficult to engage kids in fitness activities. Ways such as commuting to school on bike or walking, using stairs instead of elevators, decreasing time spent in watching television, internet surfing and playing videogames should be explored and discussed with the audience (Friedrich, Schuch & Wagner, 2012). The exercise should be intense enough to make them breathe harder, feel a rise in heart beat and work up a sweat. Importance of hydration during a fitness activity should be pointed out. Weight Thirteen to fifteen year old teens can understand the concept of BMI, and calories, their sources and expenditure, and these can be simplified for them. Dangers of BMI outside the normal range should be conveyed and importance of being a healthy weight emphasised. Unhealthy diets in order to lose weight should be discouraged. On the other hand, a combination of physical activity and optimal nutrition should be stressed upon (Friedrich, Schuch & Wagner, 2012). Health education relevant to the age group It is very likely that the audience will comprise of some adolescents who are underweight, overweight or obese. It’s important that they are not singled out or made to feel embarrassed. Instead, everyone should be made to feel confident about their body and encouraged to make the best choices and selections about their health. Also, the help of a doctor, nutritionist or dietician should be suggested for those likely to need it. Although, it is easy to lecture teenagers about eating healthy, what they actually consume depends on factors like type of food available, taste, cultural and family dietary practices and affordability. Still, they should be provided information about the healthier choices they can have and encouraged to adopt these. A balanced diet will help in intellectual development helping them get good grades, as well as better physical health like stronger bones, greater immunity and glowing skin and hair. They will not suffer from lethargy, constipation and bloated tummies. Eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables will not let them be hungry (Sherry, 2005). Discussion of benefits in such simple terms which are of relevance to them will increase their compliance. Both undernutrition and overnutrition should be addressed. Also, eating out behaviour should be addressed. Conclusion Children by nature are energetic and physically active. It is important that they retain their energy and vigour for being dynamic when they enter their teens, for that is the time when their personalities are exposed to other influences which put them at a risk of becoming overweight and becoming physically inactive. Regular motivation for good nutrition and food choices as well as initiatives and environmental support for physical activity will ensure their wellbeing in the long run. References Friedrich, R. R., Schuch, I., & Wagner, M. B. (2012). Effect of interventions on the body mass index of school-age students. Revista de Saude Publica, 46(3), 551-60. Retrieved from http://www.scielosp.org/pdf/rsp/v46n3/en_3678.pdf Heath, G. W., Parra, D. C., Sarmiento, O. L., Andersen, L.B., Owen, N., Goenka, S, et al. (2012).Evidence-based intervention in physical activity: lessons from around the world. Lancet, 380, 272–81. Innes-Hughes, C., Hardy, L. L., Venugopal, K., King, L. A., Wolfenden, L., & Rangan, A. (2011). Children’s consumption of energy-dense nutrient-poor foods, fruit and vegetables: Are they related? An analysis of data from a cross sectional survey. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 22, 210-216. Retrieved from http://www.healthpromotion.org.au/journal/journal-downloads/article/1-hpja/432 childrens-consumption-of-energy-dense-nutrient-poor-foods-fruit-and-vegetables-are they-related an-analysis-of-data-from-a-cross-sectional-survey James, J., & Kerr, D. (2005). Prevention of childhood obesity by reducing soft drinks. International Journal of Obesity, 29, S54–S57. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803062 Kropski, J. A., Keckley, P. H., & Jensen, G. L. (2008). School-based obesity prevention programs: an evidence-based review. Obesity, 16, 1009–1018. doi:10.1038/oby.2008.29 Monash Obesity and Diabetes Institute (MODI) (2012). Facts & Figures: Obesity in Australia. Retrieved from http://www.modi.monash.edu.au/obesity-facts figures/obesity-in-australia/ Sherry, B. (2005). Food behaviors and other strategies to prevent and treat pediatric overweight. International Journal of Obesity, 29, S116–S126. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803078 Waters, E., de Silva-Sanigorski, A., Hall, B. J., Brown, T., Campbell, K. J., Gao, Y., et al. (2011). Interventions for preventing obesity in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 12. Art. No.: CD001871. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001871.pub3 Eat & play! Be active & healthy! Nutrition Be a healthy weight Variety is the spice! Include all food groups in your diet No skipping meals, especially breakfast Limit soft drinks and fast food snacks Snack with fruits! Yummy! Go green! Eat your veggies Go nuts! Almonds are the best Milk is wonderful and so are yoghurt and cheese, love your dairy! Activity Go biking with friends! It’s more fun than video games! Play a ball, so much to choose from! Basketball, volleyball, football, cricket, tennis..... Go dancing, put on some music and dancing shoes and shake yourself up! Have a great time! Bike to school, experience the energy and feel-good sensation! Swim, skate, snowboard! Martial arts, school fitness class, gym! CHOOSE YOUR EVENT! Ditch the idiot box and join in! PARTICIPATE! FEEL LIGHTER, GROW STRONGER Read More