Health habits improve

Teens get the message about healthy behaviors.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ohio's teenagers exercise, wear seat belts and avoid drugs, alcohol, tobacco and sex more often than their counterparts five years ago, according to a new study.
In fact, the Ohio Department of Health study released last week indicates that almost all of the health habits of Ohio teens have improved during the past five years.
"Ohio's teenagers understand healthy behaviors are important," department director J. Nick Baird said.
"This bodes well for Ohio's future, as we often carry learned behaviors into adulthood."
Details
The study, conduct last year of about 1,200 high school students, found:
U68 percent of Ohio teens reported that they exercise regularly, up from 62 percent in 1999, the last time the statewide survey was conducted.
U76 percent reported having tried alcohol, down from 85 percent in 1999.
U90 percent said they didn't drink and drive in the month before the survey.
UTobacco use fell 45 percent to 22.2 percent.
State officials credit intervention programs, including the Healthy Ohioans Program and anti-smoking programs such as "stand," part of the Ohio Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Foundation, for the improvements.
"Teenagers in Ohio are getting some of the diverse messages," said Kristopher Weiss, a health department spokesman.
Positive promotions
The Healthy Ohioans initiative is sponsored by the health department and American Cancer Society and targets businesses, schools and state employees. The Buckeye Best Healthy School Awards Program recognizes schools that put a high priority on healthy outcomes for children.
The Ohio Grocers Association has been promoting training for retailers to keep teenagers from buying alcohol and tobacco, said Julie Carrier, director of the Ohio Food Industry Foundation.
The state youth survey was modeled after similar studies in 1993, '95, '97 and 99. It was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In some areas teens did not show improvement since 1999.
About 32 percent of Ohio teens reported watching three or more hours of television on school days, up from 30 percent in 1999, and more students, 14 percent, describe themselves as overweight, up from 10 percent in 1999.
About 12 percent reported attempting suicide one or more times during the year, up from nearly 8 percent in 1999.