Consequences of not engaging in physical activity as a teenager

Physical activity or lack thereof in teenagers today has steadily decreased over the years. As a result, our nation is facing serious health disparities and crises both now and in the future. There are many health consequences of not engaging in adequate amounts of physical activity. Many of the health disparities can be directly linked to obesity, which is the topic of this post.

According to Megan Rauscher’s article, Regular physical activity helps teens avoid obesity, a study released from John Hopkins University explained that in 1996, when 3,345 adolescent’s body mass was measured via the BMI test, 28% of those adolescents were overweight. The same test was administered to the same adolescents, five years later, and the incidence of overweight teens had nearly doubled to 51%. What is sad is that there is no complexity to the concept of adequate physical activity for teenagers. If an adolescent engages in physical activity for approximately one hour, at least two times a week, they are protected from becoming overweight. As videogames become more prevalent, and the internet continues to revolutionize communication methods and the way we think as human beings, the rate of physical activity in teenagers will continue to decrease. If an adolescent is overweight or obese now, there is a 36% chance of being overweight or obese as a young adult (Rauscher, 2008, 1). According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), obesity costs our society $100 billion dollars annually but is also labeled as one of the easiest diseases to treat.

I will leave you with the health consequences of adolescent obesity. The AACAP lists the risks and consequences of obesity from a physical standpoint: increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, breathing problems, and trouble sleeping. Child and adolescent obesity can also be linked to various emotional problems which include but are not limited to: low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. If our adolescents today do not engage in adequate amounts of physical activity, we can expect to see a higher prevalence of these health issues as the years progress.

For more information visit the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:

http://www.aacap.org

References:

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2001). Obesity in Children and Teens. Accessed online 29 January 2008 from http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/obesity_in_children_and_teens.

Rauscher, Megan. (2008). Regular physical activity helps teens avoid obesity. Accessed online from Reuters Health: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTON77734220080107

posted by: kim waddell