I am going to talk about why teenagers our age need to exercise well and eat properly. We need to exercise because our bodies are constantly growing and it is very unhealthy to lounge around all day. A teenager just needs 90 minutes of exercise every day. That is not that much. The saying “what you eat is what you are” is very true because eating habits develop between the ages of 10-17 and it is hard to break them when you get older. We need to take care of our bodies now to prevent injuries and illnesses later in life. How you act now can affect you whether it is in a positive or negative way. It is your choice but it will affect you until you die. So ACT NOW!

                When you don’t get enough exercise in the first 15 years of your life, it is hard to get back on track. Generally, kids who spend more than 3 hours per day in front of the T.V. or computer in their first 15 years, only spend more time in front of a screen as they get older.

                Calcium is another big issue. All the calcium that goes into your bones only does so, in the first 20 years of your life. After those first 20 years, no more calcium can get to your bones. So if you don’t get your daily dosages of calcium now, it will come back to get you when you are weak and frail at 60. Lack of vitamin C can cause a condition called scurvy, which causes muscle weakness, swollen and bleeding gums, loss of teeth, bleeding under the skin, tiredness and depression. It also causes wounds to heal very slowly.

                If you start to eat unhealthily, you may start to gain weight. Most teenagers like to have a good body image. When teens aren’t happy with their body, most turn to diets which can lead to eating disorders. In the United States, over 1000 people every year die from anorexia nervosa alone, not including other eating disorders. Anorexia pretty much destroys all of your vital body organs-your skin, heart, brain and liver, due to the strain put on them. The effects of anorexia continue all the way through your life. The victim is at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis which is later due to deprivation of calcium. It can also lead to anaemia, stunted growth and depression. That isn’t even all of the bad things that can happen.

                The amount of exercise a teenage girl gets is an important determinant in the density and strength of her proximal femur which is a crucial factor in osteoporosis. As girls age they can gain up to 19% of their bone mineral density. There is a very positive correlation between bone density and sports. The risk of hip fracture in older adulthood is reduced by 20% if girls get a good amount of daily physical activity when they are kids and teens. If girls don’t exercise enough now, they could end up with osteoporosis and a fractured hip among many other things when they get old. Do you want that to be you when you are 75?

                At 14 years old, boys start to gain muscle. Getting exercise is a really good way of stimulating muscle growth. If a boy doesn’t get enough exercise in this time period of their life they could end up with very little muscle. Do boys really dream of being scrawny muscle-less men? It is also very important for a teenage boy to exercise because in a boy exercise plays a big role in strengthening their heart, lungs and bones. Not doing any exercise could lead to heart problems such as a greater risk of heart attacks, respiratory problems and greater risk of osteoporosis.

                My message to you is that what you eat and how you act now will be with you for the rest of your life. So be smart about your food choices and get a good amount of exercise. You really don’t want to have everything you do now come back and get you when you are 70.