There are several important components to your child’s health. These include:
- Physical Health
- Emotional Health
- Social and Psychological Health
It is important to monitor all areas of your child’s health, but there are many preventable and/or controllable factors that affect the physical health of children. Two of the most important preventable causes of physical disability in children are Injuries and Accidents.
Some of the key preventable and/or controllable factors that affect the health of children and teenagers include:- Accidents and Injuries, including accidental poisonings
- Obesity – Failure to maintain a healthy weight
- Poor Nutrition – Failure to eat a variety of healthy foods, and failure to limit the intake of calories and saturated fat
- Lack of Exercise and Physical Activity
- Preventable infections
- Poor Dental Health
- Psychological Stress related to school and family problems
- Chronic fatigue and poor sleeping habits – especially common in teenagers
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Drug and Alcohol abuse
Obesity in Children: some ‘preventive strategies':
The Media-Smart Youth: Eat, Think, and Be Active program is an interactive after-school education program for young people ages 11 to 13 that teaches them to analyze, evaluate, and create media messages-skills that can help them make smart, positive choices about nutrition and physical activity every day. (National Institutes of Health, NICHD)
We Can!--a national education program to help prevent overweight and obesity among youth ages 8 to 13, provides resources and community-based programs for parents, caregivers, and youth that focus on behaviors to encourage healthy eating, increase physical activity, and reduce sedentary time. The program was developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and is conducted in collaboration with the NICHD, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Cancer Institute, and several national private sector organizations (National Institutes of Health – NHLBI)
Immunizations in Children:
“Shots” (also called “vaccines”) are one of the most important preventive services for children. Shots protect children from diseases such as polio, measles and mumps. You should work with your Pediatrician to decide the schedule of immunizations that is best for your child.
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