Teen Health Worse Than Predecesors
- By Sam George
- Published 05/28/2007
Sam George
Sam George is the Executive Director of PARIVAR International - a non-profit initiative to address the needs of youth and families of Asian Indian origin in North America and to the Asian Indian community worldwide. Parivar means family in many Indian languages. Sam George also serves as one of the founding directors of Urban India Ministries
www.UrbanIndia.org Sam George and his wife, Mary have spoken at premarital and family events in many countries. They are parents of two boys and make their home in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Sam is the author of the book “Understanding the Coconut Generation: Ministry to the Americanized Asian Indians." Check out this website www.CoconutGeneration.com Coconut (brown on the outside, white on the inside) is a metaphor for the Americanized Asian Indians. Sam George can be reached at sam@coconutgeneration.com
Nearly half of the world’s population is below the age of 25 - largest ever in history. Despite living in an age of unprecedented medical advances, health information, prosperity and life expectancy, adolescents are reversing the long-term trend of ever-rising good health. The journal reported teenagers are doing worse than their predecessors across nearly all the traditional measures of health.
The leading causes of disease burden for adolescents worldwide was AIDS and depression. And hazardous alcohol use now accounts for 86% of the 8·6 million substance related deaths of 15-29-year-olds globally.
Teen eating habits, leisure activity, extra-curricular activities etc have dramatically changed in recent years. Youth workers must engage our young people on issues like use and abuse of their bodies. Bible tells that our bodies are a temple of the living God (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19). How can our bodies become a dwelling place for God? How could keep it from desecration? How to reclaim it highest honor? How to see body as God sees it?
Cocogen
