Adolescent Health Issues - Nutrition, Diet and Obesity -

1. Adolescent Health Issues- Nutrition, Diet and Obesity - Kevin Bauer, Tony Foster, Justin Hames, andDavid Phillips

2. Overview: Turning Points • “Obesity has doubled among children and adolescents over the past 30 years, children and adolescents eat far more fat and far fewer fruits and vegetables than are recommended, and harmful weight loss practices such as vomiting or taking diet pills have been reported among girls as young as nine” (Jackson, 182).

3. Overview • Until recently, childhood obesity was so rare that no one tracked it closely. Body mass index (BMI), the height-to-weight ratio used to measure adult heft, seemed irrelevant to people whose bodies are still growing. But that mind-set is changing.

4. Overview Contributing to poor adolescent health: • Demise of home cooking • Rise of fast food • Video games • Empty calories from snacks and pop • Cut back on p.e. and outdoor play • Internet

5. Overview • There are now 6 million American children fat enough to endanger their health, and 5 million more are close to joining them • Children today are 30 percent more likely to be overweight than in the early 1990’s • Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and many cancers kill 500,000, costing $11 billion in medical expenses.

6. Overview • Obesity most commonly begins in childhood between the ages of 5 and 6, and during adolescence.  Studies have shown that a child who is obese between the ages of 10 and 13 has an 80 percent chance of becoming an obese adult.  • When both parents are obese, the children have an 80 percent chance of being obese.  Although certain medical disorders can cause obesity, less than 1 percent of all obesity is caused by physical problems. 

7. Overview Obesity in childhood and adolescence can be related to: • poor eating habits • overeating or binging • lack of exercise (i.e., couch potato kids) • family history of obesity • medical illnesses (endocrine, neurological problems) • medications (steroids, some psychiatric medications) • stressful life events or changes (separations, divorce, moves, deaths, abuse) • family and peer problems • low self-esteem • depression or other emotional problems

8. Overview • Child and adolescent obesity is also associated with the risk of emotional problems such as: • Depression • Anxiety • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

9. Overview Ways to manage obesity in children and adolescents include: • start a weight-management program • change eating habits (eat slowly, develop a routine) • plan meals and make better food selections (eat less fatty foods, avoid junk and fast foods) • control portions and consume less calories • increase physical activity (especially walking) and have a more active lifestyle • know what your child eats at school • eat meals as a family instead of while watching television or at the computer • do not use food as a reward • limit snacking • attend a support group (e.g., Overeaters Anonymous)

10. Overview 10 Best School-Based StrategiesThe CDC reviewed the research and identified these school-based strategies as "most likely to improve key health behaviors" among young people: • Address physical activity and nutrition through a coordinated school health program. • Designate a school health coordinator and maintain an active school health council. • Assess the school's health policies and programs and develop a plan for improvements. • Strengthen the school's nutrition and physical activity policies. • Implement a high-quality health promotion program for school staff. • Implement a high-quality course of study in health education. • Implement a high-quality course of study in physical education. • Increase opportunities for students to engage in physical activity. • Implement a quality school meals program. • Ensure that students have appealing, healthy choices in foods and beverages offered outside of the school meals program.

11. Community Involvement & Adolescent Health: Turning Points • “Without community partners, schools cannot play an active role in ensuring students’ good health and fitness to improve academic performance” (Jackson, 169).

12. Community Involvement & Adolescent Health What about the “not so obvious” health conditions? • Latest trend: Doctors are finding serious health issues in students who otherwise appear to be in top physical shape. • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy • Long Q T syndrom • Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome • Sudden cardiac death is responsible for more than 30 deaths of young adults each week in the United States. Taking action… • Installing defibrillators in schools • Teachers being trained to perform CPR • Screening students with an EKG

13. Community Involvement & Adolescent Health Midwest Community Heart Foundation • Affiliated with Edward Hospital in Naperville, IL • Young Hearts for Life Program • Involved the screening of all high school students in the Dupage County school district • Painless, 4-minute EKG’s are performed on site • More than 370 students were identified as needing further evaluation by their own doctors. • Currently, MCHF is working on the proper technology needed to perform screenings on Middle School students.

14. Video • A Healthy School Lunch • http://www.edutopia.org/school-lunch-nutrition-berkeley-video

15. Using Advisory to Address Health: Turning Points • “The range of potential advisory topics is vast, from interpersonal issues to health-related questions or concerns about schoolwork” (Jackson, 143).

16. Using Advisory to Address Health Why use advisory? • It is student centered. • It can be an effective tool. • There is a need for more health education. • It can be fun and non-threatening. How can I make it effective? • Create strong teacher-student and student-student bonds. • Establish sense of belonging with team-building activities. • Involve students and parents.

17. Role of the Teacher: Turning Points • “…every adult in the school community has the responsibility to do whatever it takes to stimulate high-level learning in each and every student - compel middle grades educators to be involved actively in preventing or ameliorating health-related problems and promoting healthful lifestyles among their students” (Jackson, 169).

18. Role of the Teacher Alliance for a Healthier Generation • Healthy Schools Program

19. Teach by Example • Exhibit healthy choices • Snacks, beverages, participation in activities • Show students you care about physical well-being • Allow for physical activity in the classroom, modify lessons to incorporate this, take part in the lessons

20. Need for Classroom Activity • Amount of activity: “Among 6-19 year olds, 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week.” • “[T]he greatest barrier against providing physical activity in the classroom is that teachers lack the confidence to lead these activities.”

21. 3 Key Roles for a Teacher • Kruger’s roles : • Teach by example • Work concepts into everyday classes • Seek resources Kruger, R. (2003). Discussing cyber ethics with students is critical. The Social Studies, July/August, 2003, 188-189.

22. Work Concepts into Everyday Class • “Physical activity breaks can be infused into ANY school setting ~ classrooms, after-school programs, cafeterias, hallways, gyms…”

23. Work Concepts into Everyday Class Importance: • Reduces feelings of low self-esteem, bullying, teasing, and depression • Produces physical, psychological, and social benefits Benefits: • Does not take away from the subject areas • May improve on-task behavior

24. Energizers • Developed by Eastern Carolina University • Short, physical movement-based activities that are related to specific content • All content areas have a list of energizers • http://www.ncpe4me.com/energizers.html North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. (2006). Social studies middle school energizers: Classroom-based physical activities. Raleigh, NC: Author.

25. Seek Resources • “Teachers play the largest and most critical role in producing public understanding of the school. They translate the goals of the school board and the school’s administration into daily actions” Nebor, J. (1984). The Role of the Teacher in School-Community Relations. (ERIC Document Reproduction Services No. ED287827)

26. Seek Resources • empowerME (http://www.empowerme2b.org/) • -KidsHealth/TeensHealth (www.kidshealth.org or www.kidshealth.org/teen) • Kidz Bite Back (http://www.kidzbiteback.com/index05.html#image001) • We Can!™ (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/index.htm)