ABSTRACT
Over the past 40 years, the health of children and adolescents has been of growing concern to health educators and to those in the behavioral sciences. Today, the health of this population is more likely to be threatened by social and behavioral factors than by disease or illness. Accidental injury, homicide, and suicide are leading causes of death among youth (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS, 2001]). In addition, health-compromising behaviors (i.e., smoking, eating foods high in fat) that begin in childhood are associated with a number of adult health problems (e.g., cancer, heart disease, stroke). Thus, to make a significant impact on the health of the U.S. population, efforts are warranted to promote health-enhancing behaviors among children.
