Supported by
Data Source : NFHS-4 [2015-16]
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 0.5-1.0 | 1.1-1.5 | 1.6-2.0 | 2.1-2.5 | 2.6-3.0 | 3.1-3.5 | 3.6-4.0 | 4.1-4.5 | 4.6-5.0 | 5.1-5.5 |
Nearly 35% of the global burden of disease has its origins in adolescence, adds the report, and more than 3,000 adolescents die every day, mostly from NCDs, intentional and unintentional injuries and other preventable causes. Yet preventing NCDs among adolescents may yield a triple dividend of benefits: for adolescents today, for their future adult lives, and for the next generation.
Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are leading cause of death worldwide including India. Majority of NCD related deaths are attributed to four groups of diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases. Main risk factors for NCDs include dietary habits , physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high blood glucose levels, and genetic susceptibility (history of premature death or disability due to coronary heart disease or stroke, diabetes, and hypertension). Treating NCDs is costly in terms of money and productive lives lost. Hence, it is wise to prevent NCDs by all means. Focusing on prevention of risk factors in young people is likely to be more effective. Adolescence is the best opportunity to build positive health habits and to limit the harmful behaviors. Adolescence is an age of developing brain and the time of habit formation. Habits adopted during this time are likely to persist in adult life. Hence, it is important to detect and manage harmful behaviors related to NCDs early.
Main risk factors for NCDs include dietary habits , physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high blood glucose levels, and genetic susceptibility (history of premature death or disability due to coronary heart disease or stroke, diabetes, and hypertension). Behavioral risk factors like smoking, alcohol intake, inadequate physical activity and sedentary activities, and unhealthy diets can be managed by appropriate counseling of parents and adolescents. Healthy habits are likely to be followed when the whole family is ready to change and adopt healthy habits. Barriers to healthy habits should be identified and managed.
