Adolescent Health Promotion

 In today's society, we can probably blame the media for several of the issues that we see. In my personal opinion, I believe that merely sitting around and pointing fingers at who did what wrong is pointless and a waste of time, however. But the media does portray certain attitudes and behaviors that are adopted by children and adolescents. Today, the media is almost literally everywhere. There are several social networks that promote advertising in the corner of their websites. Television is sadly what I like to call 'an American past-time'. Not all television is bad, but the commercialism of it is what makes it so bad sometimes. Behaviors are inherently learned, and when the media is constantly portraying certain behaviors, it is human nature to copy them. 

An example of this is as follows: the media show's an actress who is deathly thin. The typical response is that many adolescent girls (and some boys) may learn this behavior. Again, it is our nature to copy what we deem successful. The famous are the rich and elite. We, as groundlings (witty Shakespeare reference), will look up to them and forever wonder how they got in their position. 9 times out of 10, they did not get there by their morbidly thin appearance. So since we see this behavior, we want to follow along in their path so that way we could experience recognition, fame, and extensive wealth.

It is the principle of the matter. The media is perhaps one of the largest outlets of how we behave. It is just good business for all, or so it would seem. If the media could reduce the outflow of such information and promote health and wellness as an actual lifestyle choice, then perhaps adolescents would be in a brighter future. For example, there could be more commercials where Mila Kunis is eating an apple or going for a brisk jog. The central idea is that once you choose a higher role model demonstrating something so healthy, it creates a ripple effect in the masses. 

On another note, the schools that are taking out the vending machines are doing the right thing. At the time I was in high school, I thought that it was preposterous that the school administrators were taking out the vending machines yet they were still serving greasy pizza everyday in one particular line. As an a generally active person, I choose to eat a healthy diet. I do enjoy chocolate and cinnamon flavored things quite often, but for the most part I choose natural and organic foods. It looks like Denton's The Cupboard store should open up a franchise in every industrialized city. 

Health and wellness is always in the news because people are always trying to better themselves. Most of us really want to lead active lifestyles. But at the end of the day, it is ultimately up to the individual to be the change they wish to be.