Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• CDC–Gathers statistics for the nation
• Addresses the six behaviors that research shows contribute to the leading causes of death and disability for adults and youth
• Behaviors are usually established during childhood
Critical Health Behaviors• Injury and Violence
– includes motor vehicle, unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide
– associated behaviors: fights, carrying weapons, making a suicide plan, and not wearing seatbelts
Critical Health Behaviors•Alcohol and Drug Use
– Third leading cause of preventable death
– Factor in approximately 41% of all deaths from motor vehicle crashes
Critical Health Behaviors• Alcohol and Drug Use
– A person may be predisposed to addiction
– The younger a person uses, the greater the chance of addiction
Critical Health Behaviors• Tobacco Use
– Smoking causes 435,000 deaths each year
– Every day 4000 teens try their first cigarette
Critical Health Behaviors• Tobacco Use
– 3000 teens become regular smokers EACH day
– 90% of all smokers start by the age of 19
Critical Health Behaviors• Physical Activity
– Participation declines as children get older
– Lack of activity leads to premature death
– Over 1/3 of American youth are very unfit
Critical Health Behaviors• Nutrition
– 80% of teens don’t eat recommended servings of fruits and vegetables
– nearly 9 million 6-19 year olds are overweight (60% of total population)
Critical Health Behaviors• Sexual Risk behaviors
–19 million new STI infections each year-almost half among youth 15-24
– About 13% of new HIV/AIDS cases are youth 13-24