In the past, diabetes among youth was mostly a consequence of a person’s heredity.Recently, however, an epidemic of lifestyle-induced diabetes among teens has emerged.Simply put, our nation’s youth are putting themselves at risk of a serious—and preventable—disease due to poor eating habits, lack of physical activity and misinformation about healthy lifestyle choices.March 25th is designated as American Diabetes Alert Day, and offers a chance to educate students about this pervasive illness which may often be avoided through diet and exercise.
A good night’s sleep sets the stage for good mental and physical health. Sleep is the body’s method of restoring energy, organizing new information, helping physical growth and creating a receptive environment for learning new things. Young people are among those who would most benefit from healthy sleep habits, and yet the majority of teens are chronically sleep-deprived. Insufficient sleep affects academic performance and can lead to disastrous consequences such as falling asleep at the wheel. National Sleep Awareness Week coincides each year with Daylight Savings Time—when we spring forward and lose an hour of sleep. In 2010, it will occur March 15-19.
Teens today are eating more, exercising less and leading more sedentary lives than any previous generation in history. In fact, nearly one-quarter of all teenagers in the United States are obese according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). Even more troubling, young people are innundated with confusing messages from the media, fast food restaurants and their peers. High-fiber? Low-fat? Are carbs good or bad? National Nutrition Awareness Month offers an opportunity to empower students so that they are able to make educated choices on eating healthfully and exercising.
