Community Nutrition Update:Community Nutrition Update:AdolescentsAdolescents

Betty Izumi

OSU Extension, Clackamas County

OutlineOutline

Characteristics of adolescentsInfluences on eating behaviorNutritional issuesEffective teaching strategiesReaching the “Why” generation

Characteristics of AdolescentsCharacteristics of Adolescents

Adolescence is a period of change– biological, social, cognitive

risk taking behavior– smoking, alcohol, drugs, sex

Physical inactivity and poor nutrition

Influences on Eating Influences on Eating

Individual

Social Physical

Media

IndividualIndividual

Psychosocial– taste counts

Biological– increased requirements

Lifestyle– time, convenience, cost

Concern for personal health and nutrition are NOT major influences on

food choices.

Concern for personal health and nutrition are NOT major influences on

food choices.

SocialSocial

Family – influences preferences– socioeconomic status, 19%

children live in poverty

Food availability– teens will eat fruits and

vegetables when available

Friends– associated with junk food

Physical EnvironmentPhysical Environment

Access and availability– schools– vending machines– fast-food outlets– convenience stores– work place

One-third of eating occasions take place outside the home where teens have easy access to junk

foods.

One-third of eating occasions take place outside the home where teens have easy access to junk

foods.

Advertising and Mass MediaAdvertising and Mass MediaAdolescents as consumers

– disposable income– influence parental spending– future consumer– growing population

Mass Media– brand identity– defining beautiful

“People always tell us we are fine the way we are, but then they put stick figure women like Kate Moss and Claudia Schiffer in

advertisements. What do people expect from us?”

- Oregon student, 1999 YRBS

“People always tell us we are fine the way we are, but then they put stick figure women like Kate Moss and Claudia Schiffer in

advertisements. What do people expect from us?”

- Oregon student, 1999 YRBS

Nutritional IssuesNutritional Issues

Calcium intakeOverweight Disordered eatingFamily meals

Calcium IntakeCalcium Intake

Healthy People 2010 Goal calcium intake so that at least 75% of 11-24

year olds consume 3 servings calcium daily.

Teenage girls at greatest risk– > 78% do not meet recommended intake

Why are calcium intakes so low? consumption of soda

Lactose intolerance

Overweight in AdolescentsOverweight in Adolescents

In Oregon, 16.5% teens overweight or at risk for overweight.

Healthy People 2010 Goal overweight to 5% for adolescents

Why are we concerned?– risk for overweight and obesity as an adult– discrimination, rejection, self esteem participation in physical activity

Disordered EatingDisordered EatingWeight related eating disorders

– anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating – disordered eating

Who is at risk?– young women, athletes, models, diabetics

Implications for nutrition education – introduce topic and identify resources

“My unhealthy behavior is being bulimic and not telling anyone. I think it would help if the school had a speaker on that issue or something.”

- Oregon student, 1999 YRBS

“My unhealthy behavior is being bulimic and not telling anyone. I think it would help if the school had a speaker on that issue or something.”

- Oregon student, 1999 YRBS

Family MealtimeFamily Mealtime

Few adolescents actually eat dinner with their families on a regular basis

Nutritional value of eating family mealsImplications for nutrition education

– integrate “family meals” into class time

Eating family dinners are associated with more healthful diets.Eating family dinners are associated with more healthful diets.

Effective Teaching StrategiesEffective Teaching Strategies

Rewards for program attendancePeer leaders as teaching assistantsActivity based learning and skitsShort videosInclude teens in defining program goals and

objectives and identifying lesson topics or recipes

Reaching the “Why” GenerationReaching the “Why” Generation

Get to know the teen culture. Give information on healthful choices in places

where teens like to eat. Focus on short term benefits of good nutrition. Take the time to get to know individual teens.

App 10-24-02