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Healthy Eating Research Paper

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Healthy Eating Research Paper
Abstract
Eating healthy is important for many reasons, it will promote intellectual development in children and adolescents prevent major health problems from developing and ensure a long and healthy life style. This research paper will introduce the importance of forming a healthy eating habit from a young age onto the senior years and will also point out some of the negative effects not eating healthy can cause such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, iron deficiency anemia, dental caries, under-nutrition, and eating disorders.

During the past 20 years, there has been a substantial increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. More than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged two to nineteen years are obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2012). Healthy eating habits along with exercise is the most natural solution to prevent and control health illnesses, such as heart disease, diabetes, strokes, high blood pressure and even death. Educating children and adolescents on nutrition can prevent them from developing chronic health problems and diseases during adulthood. The best time to start eating healthy is at a young age. Many schools are promoting healthy eating by providing healthy meals during lunch time. According to Journal of School Health (1997), promoting healthy eating habits to children and adolescents increases their optimal health, growth, and intellectual development. It also prevents immediate health problems such as under-nutrition, iron deficiency anemia, eating disorders, obesity, and dental caries.
Under-nutrition children or adolescents have a difficult time concentrating on their studies and their attention span is also affected, which may result in low performance. Under-nutrition students have a low immune system and often get sick which will affect their attendance



References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). In Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved December 17, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html. Guidelines for school health programs to promote lifelong healthy eating... article is based on "Guidelines for school programs to promote lifelong healthy eating," printed in MMWR 1996; 45(RR-9). (1997). Journal of School Health, 67(1), 9-26. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.1997.tb06289.x Magee, E. (n.d.). WebMD. In How to Stop Overeating. Retrieved December 17, 2012, from http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/overcoming-overeating. WebMD. (2012). Healthy Eating: Benefits of a Healthier Diet. Retrieved on December 29, 2012 from http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/tc/healthy-eating-overview Zdeb, C. (2011, Mar 14). Healthy eating a hard habit to break; unlike fad diets, a real change in lifestyle and diet is built to last. Edmonton Journal. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/857274539?accountid=35812

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