Adolescence is a period in which the child undergoes valuable changes
physically, biochemically, spiritually and socially.
World Health Organization (WHO) defines 10-19 age group as adolescent (adolescent).
Along with the rapid growth and development in adolescence, the need for power has also increased. In addition, obesity
, which develops due to inactivity, social-environmental factors, wrong eating habits and mental structure
, is a valuable problem. It is possible for individuals to maintain a healthy life
in adulthood, by developing a systematic eating habit in childhood and youth
. Obesity, which occurs in children and youth, is thought to cause many
health problems in these individuals in the future. According to studies, it is reported that approximately 30% of these
individuals may become obese adults in the future.
What are the main factors affecting food choices and eating behaviors?
There are various individual and environmental
factors that affect food choices and eating behaviors during adolescence. In the middle of individual characteristics, there are psychosocial factors such as adolescents’ general behaviors, beliefs, knowledge
levels, self-sufficiency, body images and food and taste preferences
. In addition to these, biological factors such as hunger also affect eating
behaviors. Behavioral factors such as main and middle meal consumption habits, weight control, slimming
diets, and also factors related to life form
such as money and time difficulties affect eating behaviors.
Individuals in adolescence continue to develop not only physically, but also cognitively and psychosocially
and are in search of identity, efforts to be independent, to be accepted
and are very concerned with their appearance. . Unsystematic meals and snacking in the middle of the meal, fast-food form other than residential
are typical features of eating habits. Many factors influence these habits
, mostly family, peers and media. Some studies
have shown that more than 90% of adolescents eat something in the middle of meals. In this middle meal
, foods such as fruit juice, fruit, milk, cheese and vegetables, which are mostly high in calories, low in nutritional value, and high in fat and sodium, called “Junk foods”
are consumed
.
, however, it is stated that the rate of areas is around 40%.
There are many environmental factors that affect the eating behaviors, food consumption and nutritional habits of adolescents
and family comes first.
Eating at the family table and the contents of the meals eaten at the table, the type of food in the house
, the availability of ready-made and fresh foods in the house, the frequency of eating out, the food consumption of the parents
and the attitudes and behaviors of parents towards nutrition affect the nutritional habits of adolescents
. The fact that families force children to eat certain foods, the restrictions they impose on some
foods, and their role as an example and model also change their children’s eating habits and body loads
.
When the bond between the food choices of adolescents and their families and the attention in the middle of the adolescents and their friends
are compared, it is determined that the influence of their families is higher
, but the influence of friends in the middle meals and snack food choices is higher.
stands out as a valuable factor. Behaviors such as spending time with friends, social learning, observing, imitating,
have a valuable influence on differences in food choices. In the cluster
, it is seen that exemplary foods are preferred and adolescents affect each other significantly
. Unlike these, the consumed measures of the foods also affect each other
. For example, it has been observed that overweight adolescents ate more food with their overweight friends than when they ate together with their friends of normal weight
.
The risk of obesity is higher in children whose parents are obese, and it is stated that the genetic load varies in the middle of 25-40%
. There are studies
investigating some chromosomes thought to be related to obesity. The mother’s womb is a factor as much as the effect of genetics in the development of obesity.
The first environment encountered in life is the uterus. During pregnancy, the eating center and adipose tissue
are formed in the 6th-9th months and the mother’s over or under nutrition affects the baby’s being obese in the future
Precisely, the mother’s diabetes or hyperinsulinemia can also cause obesity in the baby’s future life
. After birth, breastfeeding is predisposed in many ways by the development of obesity, as well as by the development of obesity
.
Offers
They should prefer home-prepared
raw vegetables, salads, yoghurts, milk desserts instead of low-nutritive, high-potency, high-fat and salt-containing foods. If one
is going to fast food restaurants in the middle; healthy menu choices (for example, hamburger accompanied by buttermilk, salad or fruit
juice is a good choice).
If they have consumed high-fat food outside, they should prefer low-fat foods at home.
Youth can be asked for help
in food shopping, menu planning, meal preparation and cooking,
An offer can be made for the selection of food they eat outside the residence. In this way, the way of weight control
is also taught.
Individuals should be made aware of systematic training for a healthy life style, low-fat food, increasing consumption of vegetables and fruits,
not smoking and not using alcohol.
If there is a problem with body load, he should help him change his life style without criticism
and seek help from a dietitian.
Family members should also take care to have healthy food in the residence.
Young girls go on a wrong diet many times in order to have a fitter body, and as a result of this
, eating behavior disorders may develop. Men, on the other hand, value exercising and developing the body
. For this, they try to eat a strong diet from protein.
However, excess protein consumption is not necessary.
For a healthier life, you should increase your physical activity. In adolescents, activity is valuable for feeling energetic
, belief, an adequate appearance, school success, lifelong acquisition of a real habit, and reducing the risks of chronic
disease.
Up to the age of 16, 3 or more 20-25 minutes of training per week, 30
minutes/everyday training or 3-5 times, 30-60 minutes of aerobic training for those over 16 years old can be recommended.
