Latest news with #adolescenthealth
The National
23-05-2025
- Health
- The National
One in three teenagers in the Middle East to be overweight in five years
By 2030, one in three teenagers in the Middle East and in high-income countries is expected to be obese. The second Lancet Commission on adolescent health and well-being warned that the health of adolescents worldwide is at a tipping point and action is needed to tackle the rising threats. The commission estimated 464 million adolescents globally will be overweight or obese within five years, 143 million more than in 2015. It said this would underline 'the shortcomings in combating adolescent obesity'. Research earlier this year led to a forecast that the Middle East and North Africa would be the centre of the world's youth obesity crisis by 2050, at which point more than half of the region's children and young people will be overweight. Scientists expect the Middle East will overtake North America as the most out-of-shape region if "startling" trends in weight gain over the past 30 years continue. A progression has been seen over the past four decades. A World Health Organisation report in 2018 found nine Middle Eastern countries ranked highest in the obesity statistics for adults and rates had trebled since 1975, with Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia the highest. A separate study found social media use was linked to a rise in depression among teenagers. The research team at UC San Francisco examined data following nearly 12,000 children aged nine and 10 years and then three years later at 12 and 13. On average, children's social media use rose from seven to 73 minutes a day over the three years of the study and their depressive symptoms increased 35 per cent. 'There has been ongoing debate about whether social media contributes to depression or simply reflects underlying depressive symptoms,' said Jason Nagata, associate professor in UCSF's Department of Paediatrics. 'These findings provide evidence that social media may be contributing to the development of depressive symptoms.' The new Lancet analysis indicates that without targeted action by 2030 at least half of the world's adolescents (more than one billion) would still live in countries where they are at risk of experiencing poor health across many indicators, including mental health and being overweight. It said over the past decade, progress in adolescent health and well-being has been 'mixed and uneven'. 'While global rates of smoking and alcohol use have declined and educational participation – especially among young women – has increased, obesity-related diseases and mental health disorders are rising in all regions,' it said. It also highlighted that today's adolescents are the first generation 'to grow up under harsher climate conditions and the pervasive presence of digital technology' and therefore disproportionately face emerging global health threats. Adolescents in low and middle-income countries represent more than a quarter of the population and bear a disproportionate share of the global disease burden (9.1 per cent), yet receive only 2.4 per cent of global development aid, it was warned. Prof Sarah Baird, of George Washington University in the US and co-chairwoman of the commission, 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 eightfold 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 well-being of young people is crucial for safeguarding our collective future. We must prioritise investment in adolescent health and well-being through initiatives including those that strengthen schools to promote health and well-being and to ensure universal access to health care for adolescents. "Furthermore, adolescent engagement and activism must be central to creating the social and community changes we need to foster a more just society and create a healthier planet with more opportunities for everyone.'
The National
21-05-2025
- Health
- The National
Global adolescent health at 'tipping point' as obesity blights Middle East
One third of adolescents in the Middle East and high-income countries will be overweight by 2030, The Lancet has estimated after an analysis. The second Lancet Commission on adolescent health and well-being warned that the health of adolescents worldwide is at a tipping point and action is needed to tackle the rising threats. The commission estimated 464 million adolescents globally will be overweight or obese within five years, 143 million more than in 2015. It said this would underline 'the shortcomings in combating adolescent obesity'. Research earlier this year led to a forecast that the Middle East and North Africa would be the centre of the world's youth obesity crisis by 2050, at which point more than half of the region's children and young people will be overweight. Scientists expect the Middle East will overtake North America as the most out-of-shape region if "startling" trends in weight gain over the past 30 years continue. A progression has been seen over the past four decades. A World Health Organisation report in 2018 found nine Middle Eastern countries ranked highest in the obesity statistics for adults and rates had trebled since 1975, with Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia the highest. A separate study found social media use was linked to a rise in depression among teenagers. The research team at UC San Francisco examined data following nearly 12,000 children aged nine and 10 years and then three years later at 12 and 13. On average, children's social media use rose from seven to 73 minutes a day over the three years of the study and their depressive symptoms increased 35 per cent. 'There has been ongoing debate about whether social media contributes to depression or simply reflects underlying depressive symptoms,' said Jason Nagata, associate professor in UCSF's Department of Paediatrics. 'These findings provide evidence that social media may be contributing to the development of depressive symptoms.' Action needed The new Lancet analysis indicates that without targeted action by 2030 at least half of the world's adolescents (more than one billion) would still live in countries where they are at risk of experiencing poor health across many indicators, including mental health and being overweight. It said over the past decade, progress in adolescent health and well-being has been 'mixed and uneven'. 'While global rates of smoking and alcohol use have declined and educational participation – especially among young women – has increased, obesity-related diseases and mental health disorders are rising in all regions,' it said. It also highlighted that today's adolescents are the first generation 'to grow up under harsher climate conditions and the pervasive presence of digital technology' and therefore disproportionately face emerging global health threats. Adolescents in low and middle-income countries represent more than a quarter of the population and bear a disproportionate share of the global disease burden (9.1 per cent), yet receive only 2.4 per cent of global development aid, it was warned. Prof Sarah Baird, of George Washington University in the US and co-chairwoman of the commission, 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 eightfold 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 well-being of young people is crucial for safeguarding our collective future. We must prioritise investment in adolescent health and well-being through initiatives including those that strengthen schools to promote health and well-being and to ensure universal access to health care for adolescents. "Furthermore, adolescent engagement and activism must be central to creating the social and community changes we need to foster a more just society and create a healthier planet with more opportunities for everyone.'
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Teen health at ‘tipping point' as 464 million youth at risk of obesity by 2030, report warns
Almost half a billion teenagers around the world will be overweight or obese by 2030, experts predicted, as they warned that adolescent health was at a 'tipping point'. Advertisement 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 had 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.' Advertisement The experts on the commission said action is needed to tackle threats to adolescents' health and well-being.
ABC News
20-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Lancet report warns health of teens and young people at risk of going backwards
Teenagers and young people are facing new threats that could see their health and wellbeing go backwards, a new Lancet report warns. Researchers found that, as the first digital natives and members of the climate change generation, the adolescents faced a unique set of challenges. But progress to address their specific health and wellbeing needs was lagging, they said. With adolescents today making up the largest generation in history, researchers say now is the time to act. They predict that in the next five years, about 1 billion teenagers will live in countries where they are at risk of poor health. Mental ill health, obesity, climate change and conflicts were among the main issues highlighted in the 2025 Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing report. Published in The Lancet, the peer-reviewed report brought together 44 leading experts from Australia and across the globe. It also engaged with a group of youth commissioners to better understand the health needs of 10–24-year-olds. The report puts the settings that adolescents live in three different categories. Australia was among the countries where young people predominantly experienced non-communicable diseases such as mental disorders, chronic pain and respiratory conditions. Countries across South America and Latin America, in particular, were also exposed to an increased burden of injury. The greatest health challenges were in "multi-burden countries", many of which are in parts of the Pacific, Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Young people in those countries face higher risks of non-communicable diseases, excess injury, and communicable diseases such as pneumonia, HIV and tuberculosis. Due to population growth, more than half of adolescents would be living in countries where their demographic experienced an excess burden of complex disease by 2030, the report found. Although the needs of adolescents varied considerably across different settings, mental ill health emerged as a major issue for young people across the globe. Mental disorders and expressions of distress, such as self-harm, were the single-largest cause of disease burden among adolescents across all countries, the report found. Researchers noted that adolescence was well recognised as a time of risk for mental ill health. Three-quarters of lifetime mental disorders have their onset before people reach the age of 24 years. Peter Azzopardi, commission member and leader of the Global Adolescent Health Group at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, said that for such a big issue, mental health was poorly funded. "It is an area where we have not seen substantial gains made at all," he said. "We would certainly be recommending that mental health be an area of specific attention." He suggested that new approaches were also needed to address mental health literacy and stigma. The report states that young people today are the first generation to live their entire lives under the shadow of climate change. "Nearly every adolescent globally has already been exposed to at least one major climate or environmental hazard, shock, or stress," it said. It added that many young people were growing up in countries with a "highly inequitable exposure to the consequences of climate change and environmental degradation". Professor Azzopardi said there were direct and indirect impacts climate change could have on health and wellbeing. He said it could lead to young people being displaced or being at risk of chronic food insecurity. There is also evidence that climate change contributes to mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. In almost every country, digital technologies are increasingly dominating the lives of adolescents. While they create opportunities, the report warns of their potential harms, particularly for socially marginalised and young adolescents. "Many of the formative social and emotional learning experiences of adolescence are increasingly occurring online, often away from parental supervision," the report said. It said there was the risk of exposure to cyberbullying, violent and sexualised content, and dangerous misinformation. Researchers suggested a "carefully considered approach" given the fast-moving nature of digital interactions. Some young people were already moving on from using social media and adopting new ways of interacting with the online world, including through artificial intelligence, they said. They said the effect of digital media — and particularly social media — on adolescent mental health was still highly contested, so it was important to balance acting early to ensure online harm was reduced, while ensuring young people were not "unduly constrained" from the digital world. The risk of being overweight or obese had substantially increased across all regions, the report found. Every city across the globe was seeing increased rates of obesity, but high-income countries were of greatest concern. It is projected that across Latin America, the Caribbean, North Africa and the Middle East, a third of adolescents will be overweight by 2030. "By 2050, close to half of the world's young people will be overweight," Professor Azzopardi said. "That's a huge number, so we need to really be acting urgently on this." The report attributed the issue to a change in food culture, with unhealthy food products featuring prominently in adolescent diets. Diet was accompanied by shifts from rural to urban environments, which offered fewer opportunities for physical activity. Adolescents today were both increasingly exposed to conflict and disproportionately affected by war, the report found. The number of young people exposed to conflict and war more than doubled between 1990 and 2022. Researchers said the effect of conflict on young people was immense, and could have lifelong and intergenerational consequences. Conflicts can lead to forced displacement and migration, which expose adolescents to violence and sexual exploitation. It also disrupts food and water systems and reduces access to health care. Researchers are presenting the report at the World Health Organization's health assembly in Geneva this week. Overall, the commission is calling for "a new way forward" in which young people are involved in policymaking and the funding matches "the magnitude of the challenge". While the health of young children has been improving in recent decades, researchers say the report shows teens are at risk of being left behind. Susan Sawyer from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute said partnerships with young people were a cornerstone of the report. "The findings are alarming and they demand urgent action and accountability, in collaboration with adolescents, to create safer spaces and meaningful change," Professor Sawyer said. A lack of national leadership around adolescent health remained a major barrier to overcoming the challenges, she added. "A common myth is that adolescents are healthy and therefore don't need health services."
Medscape
06-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
WHO Updates Guidelines to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Pregnancy-related complications are the leading cause of death globally among girls aged 15-19 years. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its guidelines aimed at preventing adolescent pregnancy and mitigating its health impacts. While teen pregnancy is a worldwide issue, it is especially critical in low- and middle-income countries. Each year, an estimated 21 million adolescent girls in these regions become pregnant — half of these pregnancies are unplanned. Beyond the significant health risks — including increased rates of infection, preterm birth, and complications from unsafe abortions — adolescent pregnancy also leads to major social consequences. Early pregnancies often interrupt education and social development, contributing to long-term cycles of poverty and exclusion across generations. 'Early pregnancies can have serious physical and psychological consequences for girls and young women, and often reflect deep-rooted inequalities that limit their ability to shape their own relationships and life choices,' said Pascale Allotey, PhD, director of WHO's Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research and of the United Nations's Special Program of Research, Development, and Research Training in Human Reproduction. 'Tackling this issue means creating environments in which girls and young women can thrive — ensuring they remain in school, are protected from violence and coercion, and have access to sexual and reproductive health services that respect their rights and allow them to make informed choices about their futures,' she added. Adolescent pregnancy is influenced by a range of factors, including social and economic vulnerability, gender inequality, and barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services. In some countries, these services are only available with parental or guardian consent, which can further restrict access. There is also a well-established connection between teen pregnancy and child marriage. In low- and middle-income countries, approximately 90% of adolescent mothers were married before the age of 18 years. In light of this, the updated WHO guideline calls for urgent global action to end child marriage. It recommends multisectoral efforts to provide meaningful alternatives to early marriage, such as expanding girls' access to education and improving their long-term prospects. Increased school enrollment and completion have been shown to reduce the likelihood of early unions. For adolescents at higher risk, the guidance suggests providing targeted support — such as scholarships or financial incentives — to help them remain in school through secondary education. The WHO also recommends that countries adopt legislation prohibiting marriage before the age of 18 years. 'Early marriage robs girls of their childhood and has severe consequences for their health,' said Sheri Bastien, PhD, adolescent sexual and reproductive health scientist at WHO. 'Education is fundamental to changing the future of girls. At the same time, adolescents — both boys and girls — must be empowered to understand consent, take care of their health, and challenge the entrenched gender inequalities that continue to drive high rates of child marriage and early pregnancy in many parts of the world.' The updated guideline highlights the importance of providing comprehensive, age-appropriate sexual and reproductive health education for adolescents of all genders. Evidence shows that such education can help prevent teenage pregnancies and delay the initiation of sexual activity. WHO also emphasizes the need for adolescents to have access to contraceptive methods, along with proper guidance on their correct use. Experts further stress that pregnant adolescents — who frequently face stigma and discrimination — must receive high-quality, respectful healthcare. This includes access to safe abortion services where legally permitted. The newly published guideline updates the original 2011 edition, incorporating over a decade of new research and field experience. It reflects growing calls — both within and beyond WHO — for more robust and evidence-based strategies to address adolescent pregnancy. Despite persistent challenges, global progress has been made. Between 2000 and 2021, the adolescent birth rate declined from 64.5-42.5 births per 1000 girls aged 15-19 years. However, significant regional disparities remain. The most notable declines were observed in South, Central, and West Asia, as well as North Africa. In contrast, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean continue to have the highest adolescent birth rates — 101 and 53.2 births per 1000 adolescent girls, respectively, in 2021. The report also notes substantial differences within individual regions and countries. For example, in Latin America and the Caribbean, Nicaragua reported 85.6 births per 1000 adolescent girls in 2021 compared with 24.1 per 1000 in Chile.
