How Healthy Is Your Lifestyle by Loring A. Windblad

* Condom use:

Adolescent eating habits can endanger health. Many adolescents receive inadequate nutrition due to poor diets, irregular eating habits and eating disorders that stem from the wish to conform to society's idealization of thinness. "Weight control" techniques such as self-induced vomiting and diarrhea are widespread. A recent U.S. National Adolescent Health Survey found 61 per cent of adolescent females and 28 per cent of adolescent males were dieting, 51 per cent often fasted, 16 per cent used diet pills and 12 per cent practiced vomiting.

Teens had poor dietary practices because of:

* Excessive preoccupation with physical appearance;

* Western society's obsession with thinness;

* Eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia.

Lifestyle habits can improve health:

* not smoking tobacco;

* maintaining desirable weight (avoiding obesity);

* good nutrition (following Canada's Food Guide);

* exercising regularly and sufficiently (at least 30 minutes three times a week);

* getting enough sound nightly sleep (7-8 hours);

* avoiding accidental injuries by taking safety measures (such as seatbelts and helmets);

* practicing motor vehicle safety;

* moderating alcohol use;

* avoiding other recreational drugs;

* getting regular dental care and medical check-ups as advised;

* fostering family, work and social networks;

* having safe and satisfying sexual relationships;

* avoiding or learning how to cope with excess stress;

* enjoining sufficient leisure-time activities and relaxation;

* getting any needed therapy for mental problems.

Lifestyle changes occur in five stages

Stage 1: Pre-contemplation - the health risk of a particular life-style activity is (largely) unrecognized, denied or trivialized.

Stage 2: Contemplation - admitting to a health risk and thinking about making a change "some day.

Stage 3: Preparation - motivated and ready for change "soon", planning how and what to do, often setting an actual date.

Stage 4: Action - active steps to change behaviour - e.g., giving up cigarettes, walking to work instead of driving, drinking less - setting a specific schedule and definite goals.

Stage 5: Maintenance - long-term change achieved and kept up.

Just asking can make a difference. Surveys show that many people expect physicians or nurses to ask about and give advice or information regarding health. Given the chance, many people would like to discuss lifestyle concerns such as nutrition, obesity, alcohol,other drug use, family conflicts, elderly relatives, sexual problems and chronic pain - but often hesitate to do so unless asked.

Go to Page 1

BIO:

Loring Windblad has studied nutrition and exercise for more than 40 years, is a published author and freelance writer. His latest business endeavor is at
http://www.organicgreens.us

Some Aditional Articles you may enjoy

Discover The Missing Key to Improving Your Health

Eight Fitness Tips For The Combat Realist by Robert Bussey

Celebrex and Bextra Proving to be Popular Altenratives to Discontinued Vioxx by Elena Ivantsova

Dont CRI -Part 3 by Jayachandran.R

Does Your Current Exercise Practice Increase Or Decrease Your Stress? by Sheldon Ginsberg C.S.C.S.

Click a Number to go to an article index page
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39