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 Hello |
founders |
| Intro Obesity |
Tonight 10:00 |
| Obesity |
key: Youth |
| Intro Lancaster Teens |
key: Health / Healthcare |
| Lancaster Teens |
WEB PROMO |
| Web Pointer |
Obesity Graph |
| Tomorrow |
website |
| Goodnight |
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| Hello |
founders |
| Intro Obesity |
Tonight 10:00 |
| Obesity |
key: Youth |
| Intro Lancaster Teens |
key: Health / Healthcare |
| Lancaster Teens |
WEB PROMO |
| Web Pointer |
Obesity Graph |
| Tomorrow |
website |
| Goodnight |
| Hello Return to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to this special edition of NH Outlook. |
| Intro Obesity Return to index of stories... |
What do you know about the world of today's teenagers? Are their challenges and pressures any different from your youth? What choices are they making and why? We don't have all the answers. But what we're about to show you may help you better understand the teenagers in your life. Our Teen Survival Guide begins with just about everybody's favorite topic: food. |
| Obesity Return to index of stories... |
NAT Sound -- track These days, a fast food meal is considered to be part of most every teen's regular diet. -- sot Nadeau tape 1 11:02:12 Meals to them have become all about speed, taste, convenience without any of the consequences of making bad food choices. 11:02:22 -- track Dr. Daniel Nadeau is an endocrinologist and author of The Color Code - A Revolutionary Eating Plan for Optimum Health. He says bad food choices are a big reason that obesity has become an epidemic in the U.S. Obesity is considered to be 20 percent more than a person's so called "ideal weight." -- sot tape #1 11:01:45 Running into the fast food store, picking up high saturated fat foods, and soda pop is considered to be a normal thing. -- track Today, there are about 5 million overweight or obese children in the country - and those numbers have gone up 50% since 1991. According to the latest numbers from the Surgeon General - 1 out of every three children is obese in this country. And with those added pounds come added health risks. -- sot Dr. Nadeau tape #1 10:52:59 What's surprising is that we are seeing what used to be called Adult Onset Diabetes occurring in kids as young as age 8. That of course having diabetes at such a young age has a major toll on the cardiovascular system. Seeing people in their mid-20s having strokes, basically having had diabetes for 10 or 12 years and a type of diabetes that you wouldn't expect except in people over age 40 or so. So diabetes and its complications including problems with the eyes, the kidneys, the nerves are rearing their ugly heads in younger and younger people. 10:53:34 -- track Obese teens can also end up with joints that literally break down. -- Nadeau tape #1 10:53:42 Sometimes people will complain of their ankles, their knees, their hips hurting them. You do an x-ray and you find "wow the joint is completely destroyed by the tremendous weight," I mean our bodies, our skeletal systems are not meant to carry a hundred extra pounds.10:53:56 -- stand up In addition to the physical problems that result from being obese, obese teens often suffer emotionally. In a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Society, young people were asked about the quality of their lives. Those who were obese rated their quality of life similar to that of their peers who had cancer and were undergoing chemotherapy. Dr. Nadeau knows about that. He says he was overweight when he was young. -- sot Nadeau #1 10:55:17 And with that I knew that it was harder for me to get along with friends. You know you're not quite as popular if you are heavy. I can only imagine, I was only mildly overweight compared to the kids we see today. I'm sure for these kids who are very heavy it is very difficult for them to find friends, they're neglected in part by their families. They'll also have a hard time participating in sports. And finding comraderie in that way. 10:55:52 -- track Kathy Wadleigh is a nurse practioner in Dover. Some of the patients she sees are obese adolescents. She says she too was overweight in high school. And she remembers how she felt. -- sot Kathy Wadleigh - Nurse Practitioner 1:02:28 What I think I said internally did more damage than the external voices. I would say to myself you're not as pretty you're not as good as my friends 1:02:43. -- track We asked Kathy for some pictures from high school, but she said in all of them, she was "hiding" in the background. As an adult she has lost weight and gained it back several times trying different diets. Obese children have a 70 to 80 percent chance of growing up to be obese adults. But Kathy has beaten those odds. She's enrolled in an obesity study and has lost close to 50 pounds. The key - good nutrition and exercise. And that's what she tries to convey to her patients who need to lose weight. - nat jump rope A recent Healthy Schools conference at the University of New Hampshire had experts talking and kids demonstrating how excercise can be made fun. nat jump rope -- Another stand up So why is it that even though we learn more about the science of health - diet and exercise - that we're winding up with more obese unhealthy adolescents than ever before? Aside from the kind of food young people often eat -it's also due to portion sizes that have gotten out of control. Dietitian and Author of Fit Kids Eileen Behan. -- sot Beehan tape #1 1:04:33 What we as nutritionists are concerned about is the super sizing. The food companies, whether its McDonald's or Wendy's or whatever, they are capitalizing on our desire to be thrifty. Most of us will not buy to cans of soda at one time. But give us a drink that is twice the portion at half the cost, we're there. But the calories are high. Let's talk about some of these sizes. A small soda is 16oz. It costs $1.04, 21 oz. Is 210 and a 310 calorie portion and a super size which is 410 calories. For an extra 11 teaspoons of sugar and only.60 cents you get all of these extra calories…it's dangerous because we're trying to be thrifty, but most of us cant afford an extra 200 calories. End up eating more than we should. 1:05:49 -- track Although it's easy to blame fast food restaurants for the increase in obesity among teens, what young people eat at home has a major impact on their health too. Parents need to be aware of what they're bringing home from the grocery store. - sot Kathleen Wadleigh #1 1:04:30 Moms and dads teach kids safety about seatbelts, wearing helmets when biking but not about nutrition - unhealthy snacks are given as treats. If you see youngster overdoing it with treats intervene. What whole family eats is important set example of how to eat properly 1:04:51 -- sot Eileen Beehan tape #1 1:07:31 Teens and children are getting in trouble with snacks…1:07:34 -- BUTT BITE 1:07:50Almost any parent knows that feeding your child a candy bar is not a good snack. A candy bar has 220 calories. A granola bar has about 180 and parents think it's a good food, and it is, but eating two or three in day, now you've got a lot of calories. 1:08:12 -- BUTT BITE Sot Eileen Beehan #1 1:08:51 If you open the cabinet and your faced with oreos and pop tarts your teens just can't resist. You'll eat and get many more calories than you need. So what do you do? Teens, the best thing to eat between meals is fruits and vegetables. If you eat fruits and vegetables you'll lose weight, and fight disease, and so on. Some people say banana aren't they fattening? Never get fat from fruit 1:09:35 -- track Getting rid of beef at some meals would be healthy too, says Dr. Nadeau. -- sot Nadeau #1 11:09:57 In China you find a low incidence of coronary disease and diabetes, and they use grain, veggies and they may use fish or chicken to provide flavor, but the meal s are not built around a slab of dead animal. They're built around good foods: grains, veggies. Lots of color is important. 11:10:25 -- -- BUTT BITE 1:15:02 Wadleigh #1 A key point to weight loss is self worth. You need to value yourself to take care of yourself and be successful. 1:15:12 -- Wadleigh #1 1:15:21 What does a parent do to help child feel self worth? Parents need to tell their children things other than you're pretty value the inside you're a nice person etc. Not focus so much on looks. 1:15:48 -- sot Dr. Nadeau #1 11:14:52 Teenagers as we know are going through a lot of stress. But I do think that eating healthy foods can make that period better for them in so many ways. It can help them stay slim. They'll be more popular. They'll have better skin. They'll be able to get out there with the team. I do think that for kids instead of relying on cigarettes or fast food as a comfort. If they start to think ahead and say I'm going to choose wisely and eat well and not treat my body like a garbage can. Then I'll be able to control my life, control my destiny and find that they are successful and happy in coming years. 11:15:39 Note a bit of Nadeau b roll is on tape two…walking hallway talking to someone two shot with me…. -- Also b roll of Kathy Wadleigh follows her interview on Wadliegh tape 1 her walking hall talking to office folks -- and I've noted some of the cover shots with Eileen Beehan on script/ |
| Intro Lancaster Teens Return to index of stories... |
To get a better sense of what young people are saying about their own health and well-being we spent some time listening to them. In this program, we take you to the Weeks Medical Center Teen Health Clinic in Lancaster. |
| Lancaster Teens Return to index of stories... |
ALLY - ARE YOU TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF? WHAT DOES THAT MAKE YOU THINK OF? ARE YOU TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF? WELL, I THINK FIRST OF ALL HEALTH WISE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN. BUT YEAH, I THINK I AM. I EXERCISE, I EAT RIGHT. I GET OUT WITH MY FRIENDS. SO YEAH, I'M SOCIAL. I HAVE FUN. WELL, DURING WRESTLING SEASON AND SPORTS SEASONS, IT'S MORE SO THAN NOW, BUT RIGHT NOW I'M SORT OF TAKING A LITTLE BREAK. THEN LATER ON IN THE SUMMER START TO GET MORE INTO IT. BUT RIGHT NOW I'M BEING PRETTY LAZY. Reporter: YOU HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR WEIGHT RANGE, AND YOUR STRENGTH AND THE LIKE, DOES THAT DEVELOP INTO ANY ISSUES AS FAR AS MAYBE YOU'RE OVERWATCHING YOUR DAY IT OR SOME PEOPLE CROSSING THE LINE OF BEING HEALTHY BECAUSE THEY WANT TO STAY IN A CERTAIN RANGE? NOT, IT HASN'T BEEN A FACTOR FOR ME TOO MUCH BECAUSE I JUST DO CROSS COUNTRY, AND I SHED OFF ALL THE FAT FROM THE SUMMER. BUT SOME OF THE KIDS IT IS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM. THEY'LL GO FROM 1 OF 0 TO 152 IN A DAY. Reporter: IN A DAY? IN A DAY. Reporter: WHAT DO THEY DO TO DO THAT? JUST NOT EAT, AND SPIT IN CUPS AND DO SOME PRETTY OTHER -- SPIT IN CUPS, TO GET WATER WEIGHT OUT. Reporter: OH, YOU'RE KIDDING, I NEVER HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE. THAT'S A NEW ONE. SO WILL THEY NOT DRINK TOO, TO GET DEHYDRATED TO DROP THE WEIGHT? YEAH. I THINK EVERYBODY HAS MADE SOME REALLY GOOD POINTS ABOUT TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF PHYSICALLY AND NOT DRINKING, NOT SMOKING, EXERCISING AND EATING RIGHT. AND I ALSO THINK IT'S A MENTAL THING. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR MIND ACTIVE, AND TRY NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THINGS TOO MUCH. BECAUSE THEN YOU JUST GET YOURSELF DOWN. AND TRY AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM, YOU KNOW, THE PERSPECTIVE THAT IT'S NOT HORRIBLE, IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THAT CAN GET PEOPLE, THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO FUNCTION ANY MORE, THEY GET REALLY DEPRESSED, AND THAT JUST, I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I KNOW, AND IT'S NOT GOOD. AND I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN TO ME, SO I TRY AND JUST KIND OF STAY WITH MY FRIENDS, AND KEEP MYSELF HAPPY AND SURROUND MYSELF WITH THINGS THAT WILL KEEP MY ON THE RIGHT TRACK. Reporter: WHO DO YOU FEEL AS IF YOU'RE ASSAULTED BY IMAGES LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME, DO YOU GET THE SENSE FROM TV, FROM MAGAZINES, FROM WHATEVER, THAT THIS IS HOW WE'RE ALL, AT LEAST FOR FEMALES WE'RE SUPPOSED TO LOOK? WELL, YOU SEE THAT A LOT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF GIRLS LOOK LIKE THAT, ON TV AND STUFF. AND I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF, IF IT BOTHERS YOU. I MEAN, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH MYSELF, YOU KNOW, AND TAKES A LONG TIME FOR YOU TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH YOURSELF. BUT WHEN I LOOK AT SOMEONE LIKE THAT, YOU JUST SORT OF, AT A TIME I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BOTHERED ME AND I USED TO WANT TO LOOK LIKE THAT, BUT YOU JUST SORT OF HAVE TO LOOK INSIDE AND JUST SORT OF BE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WITH YOURSELF TO REALIZE THAT IT'S AN UNATTAINABLE GOAL. SO WHY BOTHER. Reporter: DO YOU ALL TRY TO BE AWARE WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MARKET TO YOU OR TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, DRINK THIS PEPSI AND YOU'LL BECOME BRITTANY SPEARS TOMORROW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW. BUT ARE YOU AWARE OF THAT, DO YOU TRY TO CONSCIOUSLY THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS WHEN YOU SEE THEM? I THINK FOR A WHILE IT WAS LIKE THAT, LIKE WE ALL WANTED TO LOOK LIKE BRITTANY OR WE ALL WANTED TO DRINK PEP SAYS BECAUSE OF BRITTANY. BUT NOW THERE'S SO MUCH EDUCATION ABOUT HOW PEOPLE ARE MARKETING THINGS THAT WE DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. Reporter: DID YOU HAVE A FORMAL EDUCATION ON THIS IN HIGH SCHOOL AT ALL? OR IS IT SOMETHING YOU LEARN ON YOUR OWN? JUST LEARN ON OUR OWN, OUR PARENTS TELLING US OR OUR FRIENDS, JUST TALKING ABOUT IT. Reporter: AND LASTLY, AND WE'LL MOVE ON FROM HERE. EATING DISORDERS, ARE WE SEEING THAT WITH GUYS, WITH GIRLS IN SCHOOL? MORE FEMALES THAN MALES IN GENERAL, YEAH, YOU SEE IT. DEFINITELY. Reporter: ARE PEOPLE GETTING HELP FOR IT? YEAH. AT LEAST WE HOPE SO. I THINK ONE THING, ONE BENEFIT OF LIVING IN A SMALL COMMUNITY LIKE THIS IS EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY ELSE. SO IT'S REALLY EASY TO NOTICE CHANGE AND TO NOTICE THINGS THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT, AND A LOT OF US KNOW WHAT KINDS OF SIGNS TO LOOK FOR, AND IF YOU START SEEING SIGNS THEN YOU GET SOMEONE HELP. THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT WORKS. Reporter: DO YOU SEE KIDS DRINKING? DOING DRUGS IN HIGH SCHOOL, DID YOU EVEN SEE IT AS EARLY AS JUNIOR HIGH OR BEFORE THAT? WHAT'S THE SITUATION LIKE? I'VE SEEN KIDS, PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT A LOT START DRINKING AROUND WHEN I STARTED GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL. MIGHT HAVE STARTED EARLIER, BUT THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TO NOTICE IT. AND THERE'S JUST ONE SITUATION WHERE I JUST REMEMBER THIS ONE PERSON WHO I TRULY CARED ABOUT, HE CAME INTO SCHOOL AND HE BROUGHT ALCOHOL AND HE GOT IN BIG TROUBLE, YOU KNOW. AND HE WAS SMOKING WEED IN SCHOOL. REALLY NOT GOOD STUFF. AND IT'S HARD BECAUSE, SOMEONE WHO KNOWS, I JUST CAN'T DO THAT KIND OF STUFF, IT'S SO HARD TO SEE SOMEONE YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT DOING THAT STUFF TO THEMSELVES. I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT DRINK. I PERSONALLY DON'T DRINK. BUT FRIENDS DRINK, BUT A LOT OF MY FRIENDS DO IT IN A SAFE E MANNER. Reporter: WHAT WOULD BE SAFE, THOUGH? RESPONSIBLE DRINKING, IF THERE IS SUCH A THING, I THINK THERE IS. A DRINKING ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO OUT AND DRIVE. AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT TO DO IF SOMETHING HAPPENS. Reporter: DO YOU FIND THAT PEOPLE MAY SHOW SIGNS OF BEING DEPRESSED AT YOUR AGE? BECAUSE FOR A LONG TIME PEOPLE DEALT WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ADULTS ONLY AND DIDN'T REALLY LOOK AT KIDS OR TEENS AS FAR AS HOW IS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, THEY'RE KIDS, YOU KNOW, WHY WOULD THEY HAVE I PROBLEM, WHICH ISN'T TRUE. DO YOU GUYS SEE THAT AT ALL AND HOW DOES IT SHOW ITSELF? DEPRESSION I THINK IS A BIG THING. AT OUR AGE, A LOT OF PEOPLE GET VERY STRESSED OUT OVER GRADES AND SCHOOL WORK. I THINK THAT'S A PART OF IT. AND JUST THE DIFFERENT CHANGES THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH TOO IN OUR LIFE, IT'S JUST REALLY HARD TO DEAL WITH ALL OF IT. I THINK DEPRESSION IS THE CAUSE OF IT. I HAVE KNOWN MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE SEVERAL TIMES. AND YOU JUST HAVE TO TRY TO HELP THEM GET HELP, YOU KNOW, TELL THEM THEY NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, TALK TO THEIR PARENTS, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIME THEY DON'T THINK THEY CAN TRUST THEIR PARENTS AND DON'T WANT TO TELL THEM. SO I THINK IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT AS SOMEONE WHO IS FRIENDS WITH THEM TO JUST TRY TO GET THEM HELP, TRY TO GET THEM TO SEE THAT THERE'S ANOTHER ESCAPE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO END EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW. AND I THINK MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A PROBLEM ANYWHERE ELSE, IT MUST BE, BUT UP HERE IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW ARE HAVING A LOT OF DEPRESSION IN THEIR LIVES. MAYBE IT JUST BECAUSE OF THE WINTERS UP HERE, THEY'RE SO LONG. Reporter: I HAD A TOUGH TIME THIS LAST WINTER. SO I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD NECESSARILY BE OFF BASE. BUT THE WHOLE ISSUE AS YOU SAID IS MEDICATION FOR DEPRESSION, I'M SURE THERE ARE TEENS OUT THERE THAT NEED MEDICATION, OR TAKE IT FOR DEPRESSION. ACTUALLY MY DOCTOR WANTED ME TO GO ON DEPRESSION MEDICATION, BUT I GOT MYSELF OUT OF IT, YOU KNOW. IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT MIND, YOU CAN JUST TALK YOURSELF THROUGH AND IT TRY TO SETTLE DOWN. I DON'T THINK TAKING MEDICATION IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THIS. I THINK DOCTORS ARE TRYING TO GIVE US WAY TOO MUCH MEDICATION THESE DAYS FOR THINGS THAT WE CAN SETTLE ON OUR OWN. ANOTHER THING MIGHT BE ALSO THAT WE'RE TOO QUICK TO JUDGE THAT WE HAVE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION, AND AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME WE HAVE DEPRESSION. I THINK A LOT OF STUDENTS, THEY HAVE DOWN TIMES IN THEIR LIFE. BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPOSED TO SO MUCH, I GUESS, YOU COULD SAY ADS IN THE MEDIA HYPES THINGS UP SO MUCH THAT WE THINK, OH, I'M FEELING SAD, I HAVE DEPRESSION. A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, KIDS TOTALLY TAKE THINGS OUT OF CONTEXT. AND BLOW IT UP TRIPLE PORTION WHERE IT SHOULD NEVER GO. BUT A LOT OF TIMES KID JUST WANT ATTENTION. AND WHY NOT JUST GIVE THEM ATTENTION, YOU KNOW, IF KIDS NEED ATTENTION GIVE THEM ATTENTION, BUT DON'T KNOWSLY SAY YOU HAVE DEPRESSION. I THINK WE DEFINITELY JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS, AND WE NEED TO FIGURE THINGS OUT FIRST BEFORE WE SAY OH YEAH, DEPRESSION, OR YOU NEED MEDICATION, OR YOU'RE GOING TO COMMIT SUIT SIDE, WE BETTER GET YOU HELP. I AGREE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IF IT'S LIKE, IF IT'S A LIFE RISKING, IF THEY'RE JUST GOING SO FAR THAT THEY WANT TO END THEIR OWN LIFE, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM. I THINK YOU MAKE THE CONCLUSION, WHEN YOU TALK TO SOMEONE IF THERE'S OBVIOUS SIGNS, BUT THEN IF YOU NEED MEDICATION, MAYBE YOU JUST NEED TO TALK. LIKE MEGHAN DID ON HER OWN. Reporter: SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE ABOUT WHERE YOU ALL ARE AT OR WHERE YOUR FRIENDS ARE AT WITH REGARDS TO INTIMACY OR SEX. ARE KIDS HAVING SEX IN JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL? YES. I SAID JUNIOR HIGH. YES. THEY ARE. I THINK KIDS ARE DEFINITELY BECOMING SEXUALLY ACTIVE IN JUNIOR HIGH. 13. I'VE KNOWN PEOPLE WHO ARE STARTING AT 13. 12, 13. Reporter: I'M IG NOSHL HERE, BUT IS IT, IS IT MORE THE NORM THAN THE EXCEPTION NOW? I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON HOW TALK TO. IT DEPENDS ON PEOPLE'S VIEWS. FOR ME THAT'S NOT OKAY. I THINK 13 IS WAY TOO YOUNG. I THINK 15 IS WAY TOO YOUNG. BUT THAT'S MY OPINION. EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT A SITUATION LIKE THAT, I THINK OF MYSELF AS BEING A MOTHER, AND I'M DEFINITELY NOT READY TO BE A MOTHER. Reporter: YOU MAKE THAT CONNECTION AUTOMATICALLY? UH-HUH. Reporter: HOW SMART ARE GUYS AND GIRLS BEING WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTION, BIRTH CONTROL? I THINK THEY'RE BECOMING MORE AND MORE SAFE. WITH PROGRAMS IMPLEMENTED AT SCHOOLS AND IN THE COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT KIDS ARE GETTING MORE EXPOSURE TO SAFER SEX AND HOW TO BE SAFE. AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. ESPECIALLY THE COMMUNITY ORIENTED PROGRAMS, LIKE WE HAVE HERE, WE HAVE SOMETHING THROUGH WEEKS, LIKE THROUGH, I KNOW THREE OF US WERE INVOLVED WITH --. Reporter: AND WEEKS? WEEKS MEDICAL CENTER, IT'S A LOCAL HOSPITAL CLINIC. THROUGH THEM WE HAVE THIS GREAT TEEN HEALTH CLINIC WHERE KIDS CAN COME IN, IT'S TOTALLY CONFIDENTIAL AND GET BIRTH CONTROL, JUST TALK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. A LOT OF KIDS DON'T REALIZE HOW EFFECTIVE CONDOMS ARE OR HOW EFFECTIVE THE PILL IS, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY KNOW THAT, BECAUSE SO OFTEN THEY JUST, THEY'RE, I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED OF WHAT'S GOING ON, THE ABSTINENCE IS THE BEST WAY, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT THERE'S THE PILL, THERE'S CONDOMS, THERE'S THIS, THERE'S THIS, AND I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I WOULDN'T LIKE A WHOLE LOT OF EDUCATION ON IT UNTIL WE GET UP TO THE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY INTRODUCED TO US IN 4th GRADE I THINK. 6th GRADE. Reporter: THE WHOLE EVERYTHING. FOR ME IT WAS 4th GRADE, WE HAD THIS HUGE TALK, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT. I THINK IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE EDUCATED THAT YOUNG, THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIKE OH, I CAN DO IT NOW, THAT'S MY OPINION. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT THAT I'VE SEEN IS THAT KIDS START HAVING QUESTIONS. AND IF THEY FEEL SCARED OR THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T GO AND TALK TO SOMEONE, THEN WHY WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO. I THINK ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE WHERE YOU COULD BRING IT OUT INTO THE OPEN AND PUBLICLY TALK ABOUT IT OR HIDE IT UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN SEE CONSEQUENCES FROM NOT TALKING ABOUT IT. SO IT'S A TOUCHY SUBJECT WITH A LOT OF A PEOPLE I KNOW, TO EDUCATE YOUNGER OR NOT TO. I GUESS IT ALL DEPENDS. Reporter: DO YOU THINK KIDS FEEL PRESSURE TO BE SEXUALLY ACTIVE? YEAH. YES. Reporter: EVERYONE? YOU'RE NOT SAYING YES. FOR ME, I DON'T FEEL PRESSURED. I KNOW THAT THERE IS THAT PRESSURE OUT THERE, BUT I STILL KNOW THAT IT'S MY OWN DECISION. AND I HAVE A BOYFRIEND, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY PRESSURE AT ALL, IT'S FINE. AND I JUST FEEL THAT IF PEOPLE ARE PRESSURED THAT THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF THAT SITUATION. THEY NEED TO HANG OUT WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND MAYBE IF IT'S EXTREME THEY NEED TO GET SOME HELP. Reporter: WHAT ABOUT ALL THE REST OF YOU SAID YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE OUT THERE. WHO WANTS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT PRESSURE IS THERE? IT'S JUST, HAVE YOU GONE WITH HER YET, YOU KNOW, THAT SORT OF STUFF, THE GUYS, MOSTLY ON THE WRESTLING TEAM ASK. BUT IT'S JUST, IT'S THERE. Reporter: HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT THAT? YOU JUST IGNORE THEM. Reporter: DO YOU FINE THAT YOU ARE PRETTY COMFORTABLE ABOUT TALKING TO YOUR FOLKS ABOUT STUFF AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE AS WELL? OR HOW IS THAT RELATIONSHIP? I THINK IF YOUR PARENTS TREAT YOU WELL, THEN I THINK THE KID WILL BE MORE OPEN TO TALK TO THEM. Reporter: HOW ABOUT MOM WHO IS THE HEALTH TEACHER? I DON'T TELL HER A THING, SHE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING. \\ Reporter: REALLY? PRETTY MUCH. Reporter: DO YOU FEEL IF YOU EVER REALLY NEEDED THEM THAT YOU COULD GO TO THEM? YEAH. BUT NOT YET. Reporter: YOU DON'T FILL THEM IN ON EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY? NO. Reporter: HOW ABOUT THE REST OF YOU? I TALK. ME AND MY PARENTS HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP. THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IF I NEED HELP I'M GOING TO COME TO THEM. AGAIN IT'S ALL ABOUT DEVELOPING TRUST WITH YOUR PARENTS. BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP, IT'S A WONDERFUL THING, IT REALLY IS. I FEEL THE SAME WAY AS SCOTT, EXACTLY. I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEONE TO TALK TO WITH THAT EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE WHILE IT'S DIFFERENT THEY'VE STILL BEEN THROUGH SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW. SO THEY CAN KIND OF SYMPATHIZE. AND GIVE US SOMED ARICE ADVICE ABOUT STUFF. I'M NOT GOING TO TELL MY PARENTS EVERY SINGLE DETAIL OF MY LIFE, BUT PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THEY KNOW. THERE'S NOT MUCH THEY DON'T KNOW. Reporter: SO DO YOU HEAR THAT, OR ARE SOME OF YOUR FRIENDS HOME ALONE A LOT? YEAH. Reporter: DO THEY, DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE A TOUGH TIME WITH THAT SOMETIMES? DOES IT MAKE THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO MAYBE GETTING INTO SOME STUFF THAT THEY WOULDN'T? YEAH, I THINK IT DOES. THEY DON'T HAVE KIND OF MAYBE A BOND WITH THEIR PARENTS LIKE THEY SHOULD, AND SO WHEN THEY GO LOOKING FOR THAT, THEY FIND OTHER THINGS, MAYBE DRUGS, MAYBE ALCOHOL, MAYBE NOT. I GUESS IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY'RE EXPOSED TO AS WELL. BUT IF YOU COME TO AN EMPTY HOUSE AND YOU'RE HOME ALONE UNTIL FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, YOU'RE GOING TO GET BORED. ESPECIALLY AT OUR AGE WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE BUSY. SO THEY'RE GOING TO GO LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO AND IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY'RE EXPOSED TO, I THINK. Reporter: IF THERE WERE ONE THING YOU'D WANT TO COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE OUT THERE, TO YOUR PARENTS, TO YOUR GRANDPARENTS OR SOMEONE THAT HAS NO CLUE WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE WHERE YOU ARE NOW, WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU'D WANT TO SAY? WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH A LOT TOO, A LOT OF THE PRESSURE ISSUES THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. IT'S HARD TO DEAL WITH SOMETIMES, AND IT GETS VERY OVERWHELMING. SO JUST RELAX, AND BE A LITTLE PATIENT WITH US, OR JUST TALK TO US A LITTLE MORE. JUST BE OPEN WITH US. THE OLDER GENERATION, WE'RE NOT ALL BAD KIDS. SOME OF US ARE REALLY GOOD, AND THERE'S THE OTHERS THAT MAKE US GOOD ONES LOOK BAD. SO SO DON'T JUDGE US ALL ON ONE SLAY. YOU CAN'T JUST PUT US IN ONE CATEGORY, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND HAVE DIFFERENT BELIEFS AND DIFFERENT, WHATEVER, SO. I THINK A LOT OF TIMES OLDER PEOPLE WILL JUST DISMISS US AS LIKE, OH, GOD, THERE'S A TEENAGER. STEER CLEAR, LIKE BAT ATTITUDE AND NO REASON FOR IT. BUT A LOT OF TIMES MIKE LEG AN SAID THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF TO DEAL WITH AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IT, SO THEY JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT. PEOPLE WILL MAKE MISTAKES. YOU CAN'T TRY TO LIMIT THEM SO MUCH WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO LEARN FROM THEIR OWN MISTAKES OR FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES. AND I THINK THAT WHETHER IT BE PARENTS, FRIENDS, YOU HAVE TO LET PEOPLE LIVE THEIR OWN LIVES. Reporter: I THINK YOU ALL DID GREAT. IT MAKES ME WANT TO MOVE TO LANCASTER. NICE JOB, EVERYBODY. VERY GOOD. |
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You've heard what some North Country teenagers have to say, now it's your turn. We want to hear what you think about some of the issues we've explored. Go to nhptv.org and connect with us and others about the issues discussed in this broadcast. You'll also connect to some of the resources we're used for this series. And let us know if we may use any of your comments in our Friday Edition focused on the teenage years. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - Part two of our Teen Survival Guide Series: taking risks. |
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We hope to see you then. I'm Ally McNair. Thanks for watching. |
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Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Stratford Foundation |
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Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Part two of our Teen Survival Guide Series: taking risks. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
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NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 7/14/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, the first in our week long series Teen Survival Guide. What do you know about the world of today's teenagers? Are their challenges and pressures any different from your youth? What choices are they making and why? We don't have all the answers. But what we're about to show you may help you better understand the teenagers in your life. Our Teen Survival Guide begins with just about everybody's favorite topic: food. To get a better sense of what young people are saying about their own health and well-being we spent some time listening to them. In this program, we take you to the Weeks Medical Center Teen Health Clinic in Lancaster. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Allison McNair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Daniel Nadeau\Endocrinologist, Kathy Wadleigh\Reigstered Nurse Practitioner, Eileen Beehan\Registered Dietitian, Meghan Culver\Junior, Alex LaRoche\Senior, Kaitlyn Hinton\Sophomore, Jennifer Hunt \Senior, Scott Merrick \College Freshman |
| key: Health / Healthcare Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 7/14/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, the first in our week long series Teen Survival Guide. What do you know about the world of today's teenagers? Are their challenges and pressures any different from your youth? What choices are they making and why? We don't have all the answers. But what we're about to show you may help you better understand the teenagers in your life. Our Teen Survival Guide begins with just about everybody's favorite topic: food. To get a better sense of what young people are saying about their own health and well-being we spent some time listening to them. In this program, we take you to the Weeks Medical Center Teen Health Clinic in Lancaster. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Allison McNair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: |
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Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. . Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |
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Obesity in the U.S. 5 million childen Up 50% since 1991 1 out of 3 children obese Source: U.S. Surgeoon General |
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