Health Risk Behavior Assessment: Nutrition, Weight, and Tobacco Use in One Urban Seventh‐Grade Class

Abstract

Health attitudes and behaviors develop in childhood and progress through adolescence into adulthood. To better understand the health risk behaviors being undertaken by a seventh-grade urban population, a study was conducted to identify what health risk behaviors a group of adolescents were participating in. The purpose of this study was to describe (1) the types of health risk behaviors being undertaken, (2) the frequency of their taking health risk behaviors, and (3) the age of initiation of the health risk behavior. The findings from this study indicate that this sample of 54, urban seventh graders suffers from multidimensional health needs. These students participated in a variety of health risk behaviors, as measured by the Youth Risk Behaviors Surveillance System Questionnaire. These students have begun to smoke regularly, which correlated with the use of alcohol. They rate their health as being good or excellent but rarely met the daily requirements for intake of fruits and vegetables. And, although they rate their weight as being acceptable, most are trying to lose weight. Additionally, differences between the boys and girls were noted in weight perception, with girls more likely than boys to use smoking as the primary method of weight control. Nursing is in an ideal position to provide effective primary care interventions and community health outreach to this adolescent population.

Self-assessed dental health, oral health practices, and general health behaviors in Chinese urban adolescents

“…In the actual study, the prevalence rates of smoking and alcohol drinking were much lower than in Europe and the USA [9,10,21]. About one-fourth of the adolescents informed undertaking physical activity at a level that meets the current guidelines, i.e.…”

“…Studies conducted in industrialized countries show that young people often have unhealthy lifestyles, particularly in relation to use of tobacco and alcohol, diet, physical activity, and personal hygiene [8][9][10]. Studies also indicate that oral health and general health have common risks and poor health may impact the quality of life [11][12][13].…”

Alcohol Use, Smoking, and Feeling Unsafe: Health Risk Behaviors of Two Urban Seventh Grade Classes

“…In response to the findings from the original pilot study, questions were raised regarding if the findings were specific to the students of one school or were being demonstrated by other seventh graders in the area (Dowdell, 2003(Dowdell, , 2004. A second school then was approached and agreed to be an additional site, and the same procedures and instruments were used to collect information about health risk behaviors.…”

Meta-analysis of the prevalence of physical inactivity among Brazilian adolescents

“…Health-risk behaviors, such as physical inactivity, low fruit consumption, alcoholic-beverage consumption and tobacco use are increasingly present in our society and are associated with the development of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) 2,3 . Moreover, NCDs are increasingly prevalent among children and adolescents and are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Brazil as well as worldwide.…”