New study finds alarming trends in teen health, from exercise to diet and screen time
Teens are increasingly caught up in habits that place them at risk of obesity, diabetes, poor mental health and more as adults, study says
When a cheeseburger costs less than a box of strawberries, it is no surprise that teenagers are reaching more for fast food than fresh fruit.
But a new study led by the University of South Australia warns that it is not just diet causing concern. Teens are increasingly caught in a cycle of unhealthy lifestyle habits that could have long-term effects on their health.
The study, which analysed data from more than 293,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 across 73 countries and five World Health Organization regions, found alarming trends in teenage behaviour:
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85 per cent did not get enough exercise
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80 per cent did not eat enough fruits and vegetables
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50 per cent regularly ate fast food
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39 per cent consumed too many sugary drinks
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32 per cent spent excessive time on screens
In fact, only a tiny fraction – less than 1 per cent – reported no unhealthy behaviours at all.
The clustering effect
Researchers described this as a “clustering of unhealthy habits”, where teens are not just struggling with one risk factor, but often two, three or more. According to the study: