Download Describe the various health issues facing Australian youth

WEIGHT ISSUES
Food plays a vital role in an individual's life, without it we eventually die. Food is used
to socialise with family and friends, having a meal together is not just to simply cure
your hunger but also a time to bond and socialise but too often we see that food is
abused by Australian youths and they become overweight or even don’t eat enough
and become underweight.
Tricia Amanoail
Describe the various health issues
facing Australian youth •
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Most of Australia’s youth are healthy
although they do suffer from various health
issues, these are:
Mental health – This is the disturbance in
a persons thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
It affects how individuals function in all
aspects of life.
Asthma – This is a respitory condition
which involves the airways narrowing,
swelling and producing mucus. Asthma can
be triggered by cigarettes, exercise, dust,
pollen & some animals
Diabetes – Covers a range of conditions
that causes there to be too much glucose in
the blood due to the body being unable to
produce the right amount of insulin to
convert food in to energy.
Sun protection – Australia has one of the
world’s highest rates of skin cancer. Around
300 Victorians die each year as a result of
skin cancer.
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Drug Use :
Alcohol is the highest consumed drug for
14-19 year olds, it may cause bowel, central
nervous system and psychological problems
it can also put them t rick during driving,
assault, falls and unprotected sex.
Tobacco is the most commonly used drug
in Australians 14 years and over. Smoking
causes respitory illnesses, cancers and
premature death.
Illicit drugs is used at least once by
Australians 14 years and over. Health
problems such as organ/nervous system
damage, psychological problems, mental
illness can be brought on by drug use.
Sexual and reproductive health – Sexual
health is the capacity to enjoy and manage
sexual behaviour. Reproductive health is a
state of complete physical, mental and social
wellbeing. Two sexual and reproductive
health issues for youth are pregnancy and
sexually transmitted infections (STI’S)
Describe the various health
issues facing Australian youth •
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Food allergies - A food allergy is an abnormal immune response to a specific
part of food. It can be fatal for many Australians. Approximately 5% of children
and 1% of adults have food allergies.
Living independently/homelessness - In Australia youth can legally move out
of home at the age of 17, they often move out to live with friends, a partner or a
lone, being forced out of home, poverty, unemployment and lack of affordable
housing can all contribute to youth homelessness.
Cyber safety – Cyber bullying occurs when youths are texting, emailing and even
in online chat rooms, it’s most prevalent among 11-16 year olds and the person
doing the bullying is intentionally threatening and harassing the other person.
OVERWEIGHT
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There are currently over 50% of Australian’s that are classified as overweight. Almost 3
in 10 children and adolescents are either overweight or obese, this figure is expected to
increase.
Teenage obesity can lead to a premature death and chronic diseases in adulthood such
as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
UNDERWEIGHT
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Being underweight can also cause several health issues.
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Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa affect 2-3% of adolescent females.
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Males are also affected, with 1 in 10 young people diagnosed with anorexia being males.
Affects on the dimensions of
health •
Social health – When an individual is suffering from an eating disorder they often steer away
from other people, they don’t interact with others and they tend to sit alone at school in fear that
their peers will judge them. This will affect their development because as they get older they wont
have many friends which could result in them living a lonely life and not having anyone to turn to
when they need help.
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Physical health – This is the efficient functioning of the body and it’s systems, it also includes the
physical capacity to perform tasks and physical fitness, so if an individual is suffering from weight
issues their ability to perform everyday activities is weakened therefore making it difficult to
maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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Emotional health – When a person is suffering from a weight issue they also tend to shit
themselves off from society. Emotional development is the way that people express, understand
and exercise control over their feelings. When a person has an eating disorder their self – esteem
levels go down because they no longer find themselves attractive or even likeable.
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Intellectual health - This is the ability for people to think and reason but when suffering from
an eating disorder the individual struggles with reasoning because they are at the extreme levels of
their weight issue. Not going to school because of the disorder can also impact negatively on the
person’s health.
Incidence, prevalence & changes
over time -
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Experts estimate that one out of every hundred young women has anorexia, while
bulimia affects as many as 3 to 4% of 18-25 year old women. According to recent
studies, approximately 1% of women suffer from binge – eating disorder, while an
extraordinary 30% of women who seek help to lose weight exhibit behaviours
associated with binge-eating disorder. Without appropriate medical treatment, up to
20% of suffers will die and even those who do seek treatment, 3% will also die due
to complications of their disorder. Out of the three disorders anorexia is the most
dangerous physically and has the lowest recovery rate – The disorder involves drastic
weight loss, at least 15% below a normal weight.
Determinants of health that act as
risk and/or protective factors •
Risk factors that can contribute to an eating disorder are, hanging around the
wrong people who tell you that it’s okay to starve yourself in order to have ‘the
perfect body’ or people that binge eat to make themselves feel better. Living near
fast food restaurants can also impact on your physical health; the environment you
live in.
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Protective factors include things such as your family and whether or not they
encourage you to eat well in order to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Government, community and
personal programs or strategies •
Australian governments have implemented rules in school that ban junk food and soft
drinks, this is to promote good health and to show youth’s that fatty foods are not
needed in everyday life.
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Personal programs and strategies may include things like surrounding yourself with the
right people and making yourself a healthy eating plan.
Rights & responsibilities of youth
in accessing and using relevant
services –
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Youths are able to access their own health information and to make complaints about
their health service providers. They have the responsibility to co-operate with the team
treating them by providing relevant information about your health. They must also treat
the staff with respect.