Health Topics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention addresses critical types of adolescent health behavior that research shows contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among adults and youth. These behaviors usually are established during childhood, persist into adulthood, are inter-related, and are preventable. In addition to causing serious health problems, these behaviors also contribute to the educational and social problems that confront the nation, including failure to complete high school, unemployment, and crime.

Alcohol and Drug Use
Alcohol abuse is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States and is a factor in approximately 41 percent of all deaths from motor vehicle crashes. More info.

Asthma
On average, in a classroom of 30 children, about three are likely to have asthma. Five million school-aged children and youth are reported to currently have asthma, and asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism. More info.

Childhood Overweight
The prevalence of overweight among children ages six to eleven has more than doubled in the past 20 years, going from seven percent in 1980 to 19 percent in 2004. Several chronic disease risk factors are related to childhood overweight and obesity, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Additionally, overweight young people have a great likelihood of becoming overweight adults and developing diseases associated with adulthood, such as type two diabetes and heart disease. More info.

Crisis Preparedness and Response
Preparation is the responsibility of every school, community, and state. Should an event or threat occur or be suspected, every staff member should know how to respond based on protocols or community-based plans established in advance in collaboration with public health and first responder agencies. More info.

Injury and Violence
Injury and violence is the leading cause of death among youth aged 10-24 years: motor vehicle crashes (37 percent of all deaths), all other unintentional injuries (16percent), homicide (18 percent), and suicide (13 percent). More info.

Mental Health
Mental health is an under-recognized serious health problem. An estimated 21 percent of young people in the United States between the ages nine and 17 have diagnosable emotional or behavioral health disorders, but less than a third get help for these problems. More info.

Nutrition
Almost 80 percent of young people do not eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. Nearly nine million youth in the United States aged six to 19 years are overweight. More info.

Physical Activity
Participation in physical activity declines as children get older. Overall, in 2005, 36 percent of nine to 12 graders had participated in at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity. Nearly 37 percent of ninth graders, but only 33 percent of 12th graders, participated in 60 minutes of physical activity on a regular basis. More info.

Sexual Risk Behaviors
Each year, there are approximately 19 million new STD infections in the United States, and almost half of them are among youth aged 15 to 24. Thirty-four percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20. More info.

Tobacco Use
Every day about 4,000 American youth aged 12–17 years try their first cigarette. It is estimated that smoking causes 435,000 deaths each year in the United States. More info.