HEALTH EATING AMONG ADOLESCENTS

My interest in Health eating among adolescent has increased drastically over the years due to the rise in obesity in children and adolescents. Adolescents understanding of healthy eating and factors influencing food choice should be understood before an effective intervention can be implemented. Healthy eating is described as “eating practise or behaviour that is consistent with improving, maintaining and/or enhancing health.

more focus should be placed on the life style characteristic, school environment, media, adolescents eating patterns and perception of healthy and unhealthy eating. These settings impact significantly al-through the various stage of an individuals development. 

Adolescent physical development is mostly affected by the type of food they eat. Adequate nutrients in food promote a healthy development and reduce the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless adolescent still consume unhealthy food which could be attributed to decrease in their nutritional knowledge. As teenagers grow, they become more independent in thinking and behaviour. Therefore there is a need to understand adolescent opinions of healthy meal as it significantly affect their choice of food and gives an insight to adolescents eating behaviour.

Research has suggested that the school system has a major impact on food consumption in adolescents however, most schools have failed to provide the students with healthy meals. Adolescents eat most of their main meals in school and this plays a major role in their future eating habits which may be difficult to alter at the adult stage. Healthy food provided by schools may influence adolescent to eat healthily. Therefore the types of food made available to students determine their dietary pattern in the near future.  

Adolescent spend more time watching television than any other activity, the media also serves as source of entertainment and education for adolescent. Television, newspaper and magazines advertisement of unhealthy foods significantly affect the eating pattern of adolescent. Time spent watching television is perceived to increases consumption of unhealthy food and reduces consumption of health food among adolescent.

• At the individual level, adolescents can:
• limit energy intake from total fats;
• increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts;
• limit the intake of sugars
• engage in regular physical activity
• achieve energy balance and a healthy weight. (adapted from W.H.O)
• Roles of the government 
• support individuals in following the recommendations above, through sustained political commitment and the collaboration of many public and private stakeholders;
• make regular physical activity and healthier dietary patterns affordable and easily accessible too all - especially the poorest individuals. (adapted from W.H.O)
• establish and promote initiatives such as:- National Child Measurement Programme, Childhood Obesity National Support Team and Obesity Learning Centre.