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4. Behaviors that cause injuries As mentioned, the four

Figure 1
You have the power to protect yourself
from the six types of risk behaviors.
ACTIVITY What risk behaviors do you
think are the most common at your
school?
major causes of death for teenagers are motor vehicle
accidents, other accidents, homicide, and suicide. For
example, a risk behavior that can lead to homicide is
carrying a weapon. Not using a seat belt is a risk behavior
that can lead to death in a motor vehicle accident.
5. Tobacco use Smoking is the single leading preventable
cause of death in the United States. Smoking is a control-
lable risk factor for heart disease, cancer, and respiratory
disease. These are three of the leading causes of death for
all age groups. The choice to smoke often takes place in
high school, if not before then. Smoking as a teenager
greatly increases your risk for the three leading causes of
death.
6. Poor eating habits Your eating habits can either increase
or lower your chances of developing many diseases. Eat-
ing at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day can
lower your chances of suffering from cancer or heart dis-
ease. On the other hand, eating foods that are high in fat
and weighing more than your recommended weight puts
you at risk for heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
The choices you make can either raise your risk for certain
health concerns or lower your risk. Learning about the risk
behaviors summarized in Figure 1 will help you make better
choices to protect yourself.

SECTION 1 REVIEW Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper.

Using Key Terms 6. Compare the leading causes of death for teens
with those of all ages.
1. Identify the term for “a disease caused partly by
unhealthy behaviors and partly by other factors.” 7. State the six risk behaviors that lead to health
problems in teens.
2. Identify the term for “not taking part in physical
activity on a regular basis.” 8. Identify the risk behavior that leads to the most
deaths in teens.
Understanding Key Ideas 9. Identify the risk behavior that is the leading
3. State the type of disease that causes most deaths preventable cause of death in the United States.
in the United States today.
4. List three examples of uncontrollable risk factors.
Critical Thinking
10. LIFE SKILL Practicing Wellness List three of
5. Identify which of the following is not a control-
your behaviors that you can change to improve
lable risk factor.
your health.
a. exercise c. age
b. diet d. weight 11. LIFE SKILL Practicing Wellness Use Table 1 to
give another example of a “best” behavior you
can do for the controllable factor physical activity.

10 CHAP TE R 1 Leading a Healthy Life