Young people's health: the need for action
Viner, R.M.; Barker, M.
BMJ 330(7496): 901-903
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0959-8138 PMID: 15831880 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.330.7496.901Document Number: 254122
This article focuses on adolescent health. Studies indicate that obesity, smoking, sexually transmitted infections, and teenage pregnancy show adverse trends or no change at all in the past 20 years. The trends in adolescent health are linked to health and social inequalities. Adolescence is the optimum period for engaging the population in health. During this period, new health behaviours are learned that are maintained into adulthoood and influence life-long health. Risk behaviours such as smoking, drinking, drug use, sexual risk and violence coexist in high risk young people. The following actions are suggested to achieve youth engagement with health: specific public health focus on young people's health; direct engagement of young people through information technology; provide clinical services that engage young people.