CONSEQUENC

ES
OF ADOLESCENT EATING
PATTERNS FOR WELL BEING

EXAM FOCUS ON
CONSEQUENCES
Consequences for
well being need to be connected to the influences
that created the situation.

Remembering influences are the

personal/Interpersonal/Societal factors
STUDENTS MAY BE ASKED:
Consequences for each dimension of well being (4 dimensions)
Immediate and short term and long term consequences on specific
dimensions of hauora, inter-relationship.
Consequences that are specific to the personal, interpersonal and
societal influences. Looking at the dimensions as a whole/inter
related.
Looking at both positive and negative consequences for well-being.

CONSEQUENCES OF INFLUENCES
ON DIMENSIONS OF WELL BEING
Looks specifically at the consequences for
well being of some factor influencing a
teenagers food choices. In other words, this
achievement standard looks mainly at the
effects on each dimension of well being. The
scenario used illustrate just a selection of the
many different possible consequences for
well-being, as a result of the influences on
food choices.

SCENARIO 1:

Simon is in a school rugby team. He is quite a skilled player, but

he is aware of his small size and his team mates often remind
him of this by calling him hurtful names. The sport magazines
bought by one of his friends show only rugby players with large
muscles and Simon believes he has to look like them to be as
good as they are. He decides he needs to bulk up and starts to
eat all the foods he thinks will help him put on weight (in
particular, lots of inexpensive fatty food, and sugary cakes and
bread because those are the sorts of food TV programmes say to
eat less of in order to lose weight). At home, his mum is always
complaining about how much food he is going through and that
they cant afford much, so she too buys a lot of highly
processed, bulky, carbohydrate-based foods to fill him up.
Because she works long hours, she also tends to buy a lot of
takeaway or ready-made meals to save time or because she has
no energy for preparing meals.

Personal Influences

Interpersonal influences

Societal Influences

Simon is self conscious about

his small size and because he
feels hurt by the names he is
called, he believes the only
way to manage this is to
change his appearance. His
personal knowledge and
understanding of how to gain
weight in healthy ways is
very limited (because of
societal factors giving him
misleading messages and
information).

Simons mum seems to

have little understanding
about what Simon needs
to be eating as an
adolescent and her
limited financial resources
means she cant provide
him with more suitable
food choices. She does
not prepare meals (which
could be done less
expensively than buying
pre-prepared meals while
still using quality food,
and Simon could learn
how to do this as well)
and so Simons food
choices are directly
influenced by what his
mother can afford to and
choose to buy. In other
words, his food choices

Media images that show

rugby player to be only
large and muscular could
send messages to readers
that this is the only way
to look to be a rugby
player. Media campaigns
about healthy food
assume people only want
to lose weight and focus
on telling people what not
to eat because it makes
them fat. There are no
ads telling people how to
safely put on weight

Using Simons Scenario to explain possible consequences for Simons well-being.

Consequence Option 1
s Hauora

Option 2

Consequences
of physical
(Taha tinana)

By eating only starchy, fatty foods, Simon will

put on weight but it is likely to go on as fat,
which wont be useful for his sporting
performance.

Consequences
for spiritual
Taha Wairua

Simone might feel disconnected or unsuited

for rugby if he continues to believe that being
a skilled player means he has to look like the
men pictured in the magazine. He may
believe he doesnt belong in the team
because he doesnt look the part.

Simon does not achieve goals,

it could lead to him losing his
sense of belonging and not
having the opportunity to be
apart of something. Where
others will not value his
contribution.

Consequences
for mental and
emotional
(taha
hinengaro)

Simon might experience dissatisfaction with

his body image he might have negative
thoughts and feelings about the way he looks
if the food he is eating doesnt give him the
sporting body he desires.

Simon may feel quite

depressed and lonely and he
may choose not to get
involved in anything else.
Sedentary, lazy and feeling
unwanted

Consequences
for social

Simon might have ongoing conflict with his

mum who is on and on at him about the

If he doesnt want to be with

his friends, they may decide

SIMONS SCENARIO:
When discussing the consequences for well
being related to food and nutrition, it is
common to end up taking about things that
have little to nothing to do with food.
When a scenario such as this paints a very
negative picture from the start, it can be
difficult to see positive consequences, it helps
to add to the story or change it as shown in the
following table.

Changes to Simons
story

Positive consequences for Simons Well being

Simon receives some

nutritional advice from
his coach about sorts of
food he needs to be
eating to build muscle,
not put on fat

Simon is able to use the advice of his coach in conjunction with

the cooking lessons his mum is giving him. He uses his
knowledge of protein rich foods an having a balanced diet to
select recipes and make recommendations to his mum about the
sort of food to buy that he can prepare (taha Tinana).

Simon and his mum

agree to spend time
together in the weekend
when she has time to
teach him how to prepare
basic meals that he can
make some nights during
the week. They also go
supermarket together to
check out prices of food
so Simon can develop an
understanding about the
cost of food and working
within a budget

He is now very conscious of the price of food so his

recommendations always consider the overall food bill for the
week and this has reduced the stress and tension between him
and his mum. She is also very grateful for his extra help around
the house (taha whanau).
Simon is feeling much more pleased with his progress the
positive effects of his new food and exercise programme is
preparation for the rugby season is boosting his feelings of
confidence and the relationship he now has with his mum makes
him feel wanted and loved (taha hinengaro).
The combination of these consequences has meant he has been
able to re-establish his goals to be successful on the rugby team
and strive to be the best he can in the sport he is so passionate

IMMEDIATE, SHORT AND LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES ON WELL-BEING

Immediate = straight after or within a few hours of the event.

Short term = days, or a few weeks after the event.
Long term = months or years after the event.

Sophies family has recently immigrated to NZ. When she is at

home she eats the sorts of food her family ate in China, all of
which are available at the local Asian market. Her mother
considers it is an important part of her role to buy fresh food for
the family everyday and to prepare it for them. At school, Sophie
has made friends with a group of students who have been in NZ
much longer than she has. After school, they like to walk to the
local shopping area and hang out at a popular takeaway food
outlet. Her new friends all eat European-style food when they
are together. Sophie feels she has to eat this food as well to fit
in with her new friends, even though she cant get used to the
taste.

WHAT IS SOPHIES
IMMEDIATE
POSITIVE: Eating unfamiliar food she doesnt like the taste of
CONSEQUENCES
CONSEQUENCE FOR
may make her feel physically sick. (taha tinana).
WELL BEING
NEGATIVE: Her friends are accepting her and making her feel
welcome, even though they dont know about her food
preferences (taha hinengaro).
SHORT TERM
CONSEQUENCE FOR
WELL BEING

POSITIVE: She may feel disappointed with herself that she cant assert
herself and say she doesnt like the food they are eating (taha
hinengaro).
MEGATIVE: She may start to develop some friendships by being
accepted as a part of a group (taha whanau).

LONG TERM
CONSEQUENCE FOR
WELL BEING

POSITIVE: The friendship may not last if Sophie has nothing in common
with the other girls and if she cant be honest with them (taha whanau).
NEGATIVE: By getting to know some members of the group better, and
being able to communicate more confidently with them, she could
invite them to try some of the food she likes at a different food outlet

Connecting influencing factors with

dimension of wellbeing. Inter
relationship.
Personal
Sophie may acquire new knowledge and gain new
Consequences for understanding of her community which would help develop
Well-being
a greater sense of belonging and connection (personal well
resulting from any being and taha wairua).
combination of
the influences.
Interpersonal
Consequences for
Well-being resulting
from any
combination of the
influences.

Her friendships with others may be strengthened on the basis of

being able to share experiences with her friends (interpersonal
well being and taha whanau).

Societal
Consequences for
Well-being resulting
from any
combination of the

Sophies community may, through providing foods important to

the Chinese community, start to educate others to eat a greater
diversity of food. Such opportunities could encourage people to
learn more about other peoples culture by sharing food and other
experiences at community-based events (societal well-being, taha

FOOD AND NUTRITION ISSUES

Healthy eating us being about far more than just the
physical aspects of food and how to develop
understanding of the way food issues impact on all
dimensions.
FOCUS ON THIS STANDARD Concepts of hauora, the
socio-ecological perspective, attitudes and value and
health promotion.

RECOMMENDE DAILY GUIDELINES

FOR ADOLESCENT NUTRITION

May require application of knowledge about

recommended daily nutritional requirements for
adolescents.
The function of the major nutrients in the body
(carbohydrates, protein, fats, calcium, iron and zinc).
Major sources of these and the recommended number of daily
servings of each of the main food groups.
EACH DAY ADOLESCENTS SHOULD BE EATING:
At least 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit.
6 servings of breads and cereals (more if active and playing
sport).
3 servings of milk and milk products (preferably low fat)
1 to 2 servings of lean meat, chicken, seafood, dried beans,

 There are many conflicting messages about healthy

eating, and even the popular and familiar food pyramid
is now being challenged by new understandings about
food.
Individual people cant all be experts in food science,
medicine and everything related to food.
In NZ the mot reliable source of food information for
adolescents and others is the Ministry of Health.

Attitudes and values related to food

and nutrition.
Everyone has likes and dislikes about food
People have different attitudes to and values about
food, many of which come from personal or cultural
beliefs.
People have the right to choose their type of diet
because of these attitudes and values/beliefs.
Important body still receives the required amount and
types of nutrients.
Respect peoples beliefs about their food choices and not
blame people for any negative health consequences
related to food.

Eating disorders or disordered

eating?
Popular magazines make a big issue out of eating
disorders.
These are complex mental health issues with physical
symptoms.
Many people suffer from disordered eating. Which
includes a vast range of eating behaviours that result in
people not receiving the recommended daily intake of
food.
Its not about the eating disorder or the disordered
eating it is about the influences.

OBESITY AND BMI

Obesity is a medical health issue that people all over
the world are currently concerned about.
It focuses on the physical health and disease aspects of
the problem.
Obesity is commonly determined by the Body mass
Index (height and weight).
Only use as a guide as not all ethnicities are not taken
into consideration.