tailieunhanh - Health Education in Schools – The Importance of Establishing Healthy Behaviors in our Nation’s Youth

Many societies recognize the reproductive health threats facing young people—especially HIV infection and unwanted pregnancy—and see the schools as an appropriate venue for addressing such threats. They are, however, also concerned with upholding traditions and beliefs, including the expectation that young people abstain from sexual activity until marriage. Thus, traditional and religious leaders—who view themselves as the repository and transmitters of community values and beliefs—are often in the forefront of opposition to sexuality education in the schools. These conservative forces often mobilize parents and some teachers as allies. . | A American Diabetes Association Cure Care Commitment American American Heart I stroke Association I Associat Association Health Education in Schools - The Importance of Establishing Healthy Behaviors in our Nation s Youth A Statement from the American Cancer Society the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association on Health Education The American Cancer Society the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association believe that quality health education programs delivered in the nation s schools can improve the well-being and health of our children and youth. In the United States chronic diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality however engaging in healthy behaviors such as participating in physical activity eating healthy and avoiding tobacco use have been linked to prevention of chronic 2 3 4 5 Research studies provide evidence that promoting and establishing healthy behaviors for younger people are more effective and often easier than efforts to change unhealthy behaviors already established in adult According to the . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s CDC Healthy Youth initiative and the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development schools can play a vital role in establishing healthy behavior patterns among young people that carry into Every school day provides 54 million students in the United States the opportunity to learn the importance of healthy lifestyles and skills necessary to engage in healthy behaviors. Not only do schools provide critical outlets to reach millions of children and adolescents to promote lifelong healthy behaviors they also provide a place for students to engage in these behaviors such as eating healthy and participating in physical Health education programs in schools can contribute directly to a student s ability to successfully adopt and practice behaviors that protect and promote health and avoid or reduce health .