How can we encourage adolescents to follow healthy behaviors? Any ideas for parents, healthcare providers, health educators, media, society, etc?
In context to health and healthy behaviors, the cultural, social, physical, emotional and psychological environments are that that shape people and the factors that can facilitate change. There is not just one theory that sums up all the factors in health behavior, but many theories can be used to focus on particular aspects of behavior and to choose the most appropriate method to follow or maintain healthy behaviors.
First of all when talking about behavior in maintaining or formulating a healthy way of living, it can generally be mistaken with an imbalance way of behavioral change. For instance, a case in which a weight gaining person uses a method of harsh behavioral change by constant dieting without a balanced diet and excessive cardiovascular exercise. This scenario is generally applied by maximum number of people (generally, late teens and early twenties), who have less knowledge about the negative consequences during or after the procedure. The solution to this problem would be awareness and educating them by using healthy methods such as exercising 4 times a week for an hour and eating a balanced healthy diet.
Yet! Again, another factor that seems beneficial as well as not beneficial in promoting and encouraging adolescents to maintain a healthy behavior are the media, society and health care providers. Generally when we hear of these three terms we tend to focus on the positive aspects of what they have to say rather than researching and analyzing their attributions and making our own conclusion of what they actually had to say. Below are song examples of the negatively gained information from the factors that could in fact have given a positive outlook.
1. (Media dependency): this usually happens due to the lack of knowledge or advice from peers or family members. An advertisement which forecasts a lady losing 10 pounds of her weight by drinking a formulated drink or by taking 3 capsules per day. Instead of following such advertisements, the media should promote natural healthy methods like, exercising, avoiding smoking; encourage teenagers to participate in healthy activities by establishing programs.
2. Social in-adjustments: A teenage obese girl finds herself out of place amongst her age group members. Therefore there is a tendency for her to be psychologically tormented and as to a result which leads to an unhealthy behavioral attitude. On the contrary what should be done to prevent such consequences is yet again awareness (given by health care providers and parents) to the young group and unaware elderly group that illness or anything related with it can be taken care of by methods of healthy living.
3. Family: It is the main factor that influences a person’s, cultural, social, physical, emotional and psychological behavior. It is on the will of the parents whether they want or don’t want their child to take the path of health. In order for that to happen, parents should create an atmosphere for the adolescent to maintain a healthy way of living. For example: serving a healthy break fast rather than giving money to eat out doors, going for walks with them e.t.c
Behavior' is the general term that covers all the physical acts performed by individuals. Examples of physical acts include, walking, interacting with others, writing, reading and preparing to learn. Behavior includes seeking or not seeking advice for health care and following or not following a prescribed medical regimen. Sometimes in spite of all the facilities given by either the parents or the health providers the process won’t be successful if self will is not involved. If we don’t have the will and the determination for change, nothing can be possible. Therefore, the primary factor (that is “you”), should at first set a determination to act and work with honesty then only can you set a step forward to seek encouragements for others.
Parents are a key in this fight. They must be educated and must be aware of creating a new behavior of lifestyle that will give their children the needed encouragement for suceeding in having a deserved healthy body. It is a balance that may be hard for any parent to do in these times. Life is about hurrying through life and cheap fast food and video games have seemed to overtake the responsibly of the parents. If a parent cannot teach this and incorporate in everyday life then our future is somewhat dimmed for children. Schools must reinforce healthy behavior and activity. It must be taught and practiced as an everyday activity. Rationales must be given even in a very simple explanation. If a child knows why that may be a simple key to help the understanding.
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