| Did you know that 17.4 percent of | | | | something as simple as not making the |
| teenagers in the U.S. in the ages 12 to | | | | football team or the cheer leading |
| 19 are overweight? Adult Type 2 | | | | squad. If you feel lazy, sad, and |
| diabetes and heart disease are now being | | | | sometimes hopeless; or worse, if you |
| reported among teenagers, all the more | | | | feel suicidal, then you might be |
| reason for teenagers to be vigilant with | | | | suffering from depression. This is a |
| their health. Moreover, sexually active | | | | serious problem that you need to address |
| teenagers face even more health risks | | | | immediately by talking to your parents |
| than those that do not engage in sexual | | | | or your guidance councilor. Talking to |
| activity yet. Alcohol and substance | | | | your peers about it may not be as good a |
| abuse and smoking, eating disorders, | | | | solution because they may not know on |
| depression, and sexually transmitted | | | | how to handle depression, worse if they |
| diseases are some of the most common | | | | themselves are suffering depression too. |
| health issues among teenagers. | | | | Talk to your parents, teachers, or any |
| To stay healthy, a teenager should avoid | | | | authority you feel comfortable confiding |
| smoking any type of tobacco product. | | | | with. |
| Another health advice is to avoid second | | | | Sexually transmitted disease (STD) is a |
| hand cigarette smoke. A tobacco user | | | | problem among sexually active teenagers. |
| teen is more likely to get heart | | | | Some STDs such as Hepatitis can even be |
| disease, cancer or stroke in his/her | | | | contracted by mere kissing. Teenagers |
| adult age compared to nonuser. Avert | | | | already active in sex must visit their |
| alcohol and substance abuse. It usually | | | | school nurse's office and ask him/her |
| starts with experimentation until the | | | | the repercussions of sexual intercourse. |
| drug grabs hold of your mind and you | | | | If your parents are open to this |
| become addicted. | | | | discussion, you should talk to them |
| Perhaps more common to teenage girls, a | | | | about it too. Obtain brochures and |
| teen wants skinny body like ones she | | | | pamphlets on safe sex to educate |
| sees on the media. This perverted | | | | yourself everything you need to know |
| addiction to media leads to eating | | | | about the health issues of sex. Teenage |
| disorder, anorexia (intense fear of | | | | pregnancy, which in itself has |
| being fat) and bulimia (vomiting to | | | | emotional, social, and health |
| abort the digestion of food ingested), | | | | ramifications, is a great possibility |
| which poses serious health problem among | | | | among sexually active teenagers. |
| 1% of American teens; it can kill. If | | | | Perhaps the best way to stay healthy and |
| you have symptoms of anorexia and | | | | fit is to maintain a habit of good, well |
| bulimia, don't ignore it. Ask help from | | | | balanced diet, and exercise. Stay at |
| your parents or any authority you trust | | | | bay from eating fatty foods and |
| to help you quit this potentially deadly | | | | trans-fatty acids to avoid problems such |
| habit. Although support groups can help; | | | | as diabetes and obesity leading to heart |
| however, kicking this deadly habit may | | | | problems. Joining sports and other |
| require seeing a trained therapist. | | | | outdoor activity is a fun way to |
| Another teen health problem to watch is | | | | exercise and to stay fit. |
| depression. It can be triggered by | | | | |