Healthy eating in young people 13 to 19, - Essay Example

Actually unhealthy eating patterns are associated with the leading causes of death due to coronary heart disease (CHD), cancer, stroke, and type-2 diabetes. Nutritional factors also are linked to osteoporosis, and are the major fundamental cause of bone fractures in postmenopausal women and elderly people. Various nutritional factors are included in correlation between nutrition and health. The main concern is that consumption of more saturated fat and less consumption of vegetables, fruits, and grain products that are high in vitamins and minerals, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, that are significant to good health (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000).

Healthy eating add to an overall sense of well-being, and is the basis in the prevention of various conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, and asthma. Particularly for children and young people, healthy eating is important for the prevention of the above degenerative diseases, healthy growth and cognitive development. Eating habits cultivated during this period are likely to be continued into adulthood, emphasize the importance of encouraging healthy eating practice.

It is recommend consumption of at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, reduced intakes of saturated fat and salt and increased consumption of complex carbohydrates. However, the average consumption of fruit and vegetables in the UK is only about three portions a day. Recent studies show that an alarming numbers of obese and overweight children and young people are on the rise. To tackle the ‘epidemic’ of obesity an effective health promotion policy is essential (Shepherd, et al. 2005). The food with nutritional value is one of the key factors influencing health.

If people eat healthily, they can stay away from many preventable diseases and can live long. Many countries have started to promote healthier eating, and are concerned about the fast-food