Adolescent Development: Health

Introduction

• Adolescent development starts earlier, and lasts longer in current society
• Although many people use the terms “adolescent” and “teenager” interchangeably, adolescence covers a larger age range
• Adolescence has a biological start, beginning at the onset of pubertal development, approximately ages 10 to 13. This Early Adolescent (10-13) period may be a particularly important time to promote positive adolescent development.
• Middle - Late Adolescence: (14 - 17) Increased and stabilizing physical changes, sexual relationships, can start seeing “big picture” , but brain doesn’t allow for full synthesis or application in the moment
• The end of adolescence, also known as Emerging Adulthood (18 – 21) become more focused on individuality and identification of values.
  • Commitment to relationships, career choices, and complex decision making emerge. This time period can be said to continue until mid twenties.
  • Some instead distinguish between Pre-adolescence (10 – 14), and Adolescence (15 – 18)

Health and Nutrition

• The negative consequences of inadequate sleep include lower academic performance, higher rates of absenteeism and tardiness at school, and higher levels of depression and anxiety
• If parents become concerned about their teenager’s weight and encourage dieting, the outcome is often poor.
• Overemphasis, pressure, hypervigilance has opposite of intended effect
• Be on lookout for disordered eating: 2 most common : Anorexia (average age : 16-17) and Bulimia (Average age: 15-19)

Disordered Eating

• Risk Factors : Anorexia
  • People who develop anorexia nervosa have been described as highly controlled individuals who set extremely high, and perhaps unrealistic, goals for themselves.
  • Psychological factors such as depression and low body esteem also are predictive of later eating disorders in both boys and girls
  • Another possibility is that a dysfunctional family dynamic contributes to this disorder.
  • In Anorexia, there’s comorbidities of anxiety disorders and other psychiatric conditions
• Bulimia Risk Factors: Teens are at higher risk of developing bulimia nervosa if they were obese in childhood or went through puberty early.
  • The risk is also higher when children experience depression or anxiety, or experienced sexual or physical abuse.
  • Treatment: A combination of treatments that include individual and family therapy, nutrition counseling, peer support groups, and at times medication.
• Prevention and Programs
• Programs that focus on providing information to adolescents about the harmful effects of disordered eating are not effective at producing a change in behavior.
• Rather, those that focus on changing maladaptive attitudes (such as seeing a thin body as the ideal body type or feeling very dissatisfied with your own body) and promote healthy weight control behaviors are the most effective

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