Being healthy today has very little to do with actual weight.  Someone’s weight, although a health indicator, does not necessarily determine his or her overall heath.  There are plenty of slightly overweight people that are far healthier than many skinny people.  Just as anorexia and bulimia are major problems with teenagers these days, so is obesity.  The number of obese teenagers has almost tripled in the last thirty years. It is a disease that can cause potentially fatal health risks. A large proportion of teenagers experience some sort of eating disorder or weight disease today. There are also many who do not, but that doesn’t mean that they are completely healthy. Many health problems can go unnoticed and undiagnosed for a number of years. As a teenager, eating healthy is one of the best ways to ensure your overall physical health. 

In addition to a healthy diet, exercise is also extremely important for teenagers.  Many of you are members of sports teams, so make sure that you are getting the exercise you need from those teams. When on vacation or away from school, be sure to keep up your regular active routines. Exercising as a teenager is just as, if not more important than exercise as an adult. When you exercise, you help your heart to pump blood better, and you will lower your overall blood pressure. You will also help to remove excess fat from your blood stream. These things are all extremely important, and they will help you greatly as you grow and become an adult. Many Americans suffer from heart problems when they are older; in fact the leading cause of death in America is heart disease. By exercising routinely as a kid, you will help prevent the likelihood that you will develop any major heart problems as an adult. 

In today’s society, perfection is glorified, and body image remains a major issue with both teenagers and adults. Being healthy isn’t about being perfect. While it can be somewhat difficult to change the way you look on the outside, changing your body chemistry on the inside is easy. Being physically fit and healthy means more energy, less stress, more focus, less headaches or other body aches, more comfort overall, and a better lifestyle all around.