Latest news with #TOBIASHASE
The Star
25-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Tipping point: More teens are overweight or obese, have mental health issues
Teens around the world are turning away from alcohol and cigarettes, but are becoming more and more obese and suffering from worsening mental health problems, a new global report says. Photo: TOBIAS HASE/dpa Almost half a billion teenagers around the world will be overweight or obese by 2030, experts predicted as they warned that adolescent health is at a 'tipping point'. In a major new review of the health and well-being of adolescents, experts said some main drivers of ill-health among teenagers have switched from cigarettes and alcohol to weight gain and mental health problems. They warned that mental health among teenagers has seen a 'significant decline' over the past three decades, which was exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis. And they projected that 464 million teenagers around the world will be overweight or obese by 2030 – 143 million more than in 2015. But the Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing pointed out: 'In terms of health risks, substance use (specifically tobacco and alcohol) has declined in every region.' The experts on the commission said action is needed to tackle threats to adolescents' health and well-being. They warned that progress in teenage health has 'lagged well behind' the improvements that have been made in the health and development of young children – with these benefits being at risk of being 'undermined' with increased ill-health in teenagers. They added that current funding is 'not proportionate with the magnitude of the challenge'. They wrote: 'Adolescence can no longer be ignored ... the time to act is now.' Experts predict that by 2030, half a billion teenagers around the world will be overweight or obese. Photo: Freepik Impact of digital shift The authors of the report also highlighted how the shift towards a 'more digital world' could have a 'profound impact on young people's future health and well-being'. But they warned against 'overly restricting' access, saying there needs to be be a balance, highlighting that the online world offers teenagers new opportunities for social interaction, education, employment and health promotion. Meanwhile, they pointed out that this generation of teenagers is the first to grow up among harsher climate conditions. 'Today's adolescents are the first cohort of humans who will live their entire life experiencing the growing reverberations of climate change,' they wrote. Commission co-chairwoman Professor Sarah Baird, from George Washington University in the United States, said: 'The health and well-being of adolescents worldwide is at a tipping point, with mixed progress observed over the past three decades. 'Whilst tobacco and alcohol use has declined and participation in secondary and tertiary education has increased, overweight and obesity have risen by up to eight-fold in some countries in Africa and Asia over the past three decades, and there is a growing burden of poor adolescent mental health globally. 'Additionally, the challenges faced by the world's adolescents are at risk of being exacerbated by emerging global issues including climate change, world conflicts and a rapid transition to a more digital world. 'Investing in the health and wellbeing of young people is crucial for safeguarding our collective future.' The authors of the commission's report point out that 'investment in adolescent health will become increasingly important throughout the 21st century', adding: 'As populations age and fertility rates fall in even the poorest countries, ensuring the health and well-being of adolescents will be crucial to all countries' health and prosperity.' – dpa
The Star
22-05-2025
- The Star
Why some airlines are cracking down on oversized carry-ons
Too wide? Too tall? Too heavy? Unfortunately for travellers, every airline has its own rules for cabin suitcases. — TOBIAS HASE/dpa From backpacks to wheeled suitcases: Hardly anyone gets on a plane without some kind of carry-on luggage. Some people travel with nothing else – partly to save money on checked bags, which more and more airlines are charging for. But things have been getting out of control on some flights. 'Many people are now carrying more than one piece of hand luggage, which is often too big. Either because they don't know what the airline's bag policy is, or they do know but choose to ignore it,' says Nikolaus Moehren, a cabin manager at German carrier Lufthansa. 'This creates additional problems because on fully booked flights, the overhead compartments are sometimes already overflowing halfway through boarding,' he says. 'The easiest thing to do would be to check your booking before your flight and see what you're actually allowed to take with you.' This is recommended not only for the sake of the cabin crew's nerves and out of consideration for the other passengers, but also to avoid wasting money. Airlines have precise guidelines regarding the dimensions and weight of the hand luggage, and these vary from airline to airline. If you violate these guidelines, you can't always expect the airline to show generosity, and you may in fact be asked to pay for the oversized and/or overweight bag at the airport. At Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, the maximum dimensions for economy class are 55cm x 40cm x 23cm. Meanwhile, for contrast, American Airlines and Swiss have different carry-on dimensions: 56cm x 36cm x 23cm. Budget airlines like Europe's largest carrier Ryanair tend to only allow a small bag (40cm x 20cm x 25cm for Ryanair) for free, while you have to pay for a larger carry-on bag (up to 55cm x 40cm x 20cm for Ryanair). These examples alone show that it makes sense to follow Moehren's advice: Before your flight, check exactly what you can take on board. Some airlines have even reduced the permitted hand luggage sizes in recent years. Budget airlines EasyJet, Ryanair and Wizzair, among others, will then give you a spot fee for bringing on a larger suitcase. Hoping that an airline will turn a blind eye to a few extra centimetres is already a risk for the airlines mentioned, and reports suggest you definitely shouldn't try it when travelling in the United States. On your first flight, at the very latest, your bags will be meticulously measured and any surcharge will be ruthlessly collected. Items allowed The general rule for liquids in Europe is that you can only take them in your hand luggage in travel-size containers of up to 100ml, stored in a transparent plastic bag with a maximum limit of one litre. Although the liquid allowance was suspended at some security lanes in Europe with new CT baggage scanners, it has been in effect again since the beginning of September 2024. Therefore, larger bottles are still generally not allowed in hand luggage. The exception to this rule is bottles purchased after security, for example at a duty-free shop. While a standard-sized shower gel, for example, can be left at home or put in your checked baggage, some items are not allowed in the cargo hold: power banks, for example, must be carried in hand luggage or on your person for safety reasons. The number and capacity permitted varies from airline to airline. In any case, every airline provides fairly detailed information online on what is and what is not permitted in your carry-on luggage. – dpa via GIPHY
