It is estimated that more than half of adults in the United States are overweight or obese (cita-hp page 28). Obesity is the result of a complex variety of social, behavioral, cultural, environmental, physiological and genetic factors (cita-hp page 28). Efforts to develop healthy eating habits to maintain a healthy weight should begin in early childhood, throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Studies have demonstrated different eating habits based on gender and socioeconomic factors, as well as ways to promote healthy eating habits and discourage bad eating habits. One nursing intervention that can be used to implement healthy eating habits in adolescents is to encourage awareness of healthy eating habits. I would use resourceful information and research to discourage unhealthy eating habits. Studies have shown the correlation between overeating and the time it takes to eat, diversionary activities during the meal, cues that can lead to eating, differentiation between hunger and desire to eat, and the problem of eating during the night. Teens should understand the correct time needed to eat. Therefore, as a nurse it is important to know what is involved in the digestion process so you can educate. (pubmed) explains that eating quickly can lead to overeating because satiety isn't recognized until about 20 minutes after ingesting the food. I would educate the teenager about the digestive process and explain the digestion process which includes; ingestion, digestion, absorption and elimination. The North American Association for the Study of Obesity has shown that when people eat quickly, more calories are consumed, food is enjoyed less, and hunger reaches about a...... middle of paper.... ..a sense of which eating habits are beneficial to health and which are not. The nurse can be a source of information, support and guidance but cannot change the eating habits of adolescents. Ingenious information can be used to discourage unhealthy eating habits. Research has presented connections between overeating and the time it takes to eat, diversionary activities during the meal, cues that can lead to eating, differentiation between hunger and desire to eat, and the problem of eating during the night. Studies have also shown significant differences in eating habits based on gender and socioeconomic factors such as ethnicity, income and education. References Wansink, B. (2004). Environmental factors that increase food intake and consumption volume of unaware consumers. Annual nutrition review,24(1), 455-479.