Teen lifestyles were less healthy in 2023 compared to 2013, CDC report shows

U.S. teenagers still struggle to make healthy choices when it comes to diet, exercise and sleep, a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report says.

Specifically, the percentage of students eating healthy, exercising regularly, and getting at least eight hours of sleep was lower in 2023 than in 2013.

“Overall, U.S. high school students did not engage in adequate levels of healthy dietary, physical activity, and sleep behaviors,” concluded the report titled “Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report for Dietary, Physical Activity, and Sleep Behaviors: 2013–2023”.

For the report, CDC researchers surveyed U.S. high school students every two years to check how many are following a healthy lifestyle.

There were some improvements between 2021 and 2023, with more teens eating fruits and vegetables and getting exercise after the lifting of restrictions implemented during the pandemic, researchers noted.

And in one very bright spot, teens are drinking more water and fewer sugary sodas and sports drinks now than a decade ago, the report says.

About 54% said they drink plain water at least three times a day, up from 49% in 2015.

At the same time, 31% said they didn’t drink soda, down from 22% in 2013, and 48% said they don’t swill sports drinks, down from 42% in 2015.

But overall, the report indicates the state of teen nutrition and physical activity has declined during the past decade:

• 55% ate fruit daily in 2023, compared to 63% in 2013.
• 58% ate veggies daily, down from 61% in 2013.
• 27% ate breakfast daily, down from 38%.
• 25% were physically active at least 60 minutes daily, down from 27%.
• 16% met guidelines for aerobic and strength-training exercise, down from 22%.
• 23% got at least 8 hours of sleep, down from 32%.

“Lack of these healthy behaviors has been linked to poorer mental and physical health outcomes in adolescents,” the report says. “This includes depression as well as high blood pressure, unhealthy weight gain and type 2 diabetes, which are also risk factors for diseases such as heart disease and some cancers.”

“Insufficient physical activity and unhealthy dietary behaviors are also linked to negative academic outcomes, such as classroom behavioral problems, lower grades and test scores, and decreased graduation rates,” the report added.

Teenage girls are less likely than boys to engage in almost all healthy behaviors, CDC researchers found.

Only one in five girls ate breakfast daily or were physically active for at least 60 minutes daily, for example.

LGBTQ+ students also were less likely than peers to engage in healthy behaviors, the report says. For example, only one in eight were physically active at least 60 minutes daily or got at least eight hours’ sleep.

The CDC offered some actions that might help improve healthy behaviors among students, including:

• Improving school nutrition.
• Offering more opportunities for physical activity during the school day.
• Using health education to teach the benefits of eating right and exercising.
• Getting families and communities involved in school-based efforts to improve nutrition and physical activity.

“CDC’s Parents for Healthy Schools webpage includes a set of resources and tools to help schools, school groups (e.g., parent teacher associations), and school wellness committees engage parents in school health,” the report says.

“It also gives families information and suggestions on how to be champions for healthy eating and physical activity opportunities at school.”

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