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Over the past couple of years, health concerns have been predominant in our lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cruciality of masking up, sanitizing, and taking care of the immunocompromised has taken the forefront. As these issues have been under the spotlight, teen physical and mental health has been neglected.
In an effort to address these issues, the NS Times has chosen to write a series of stories on “Teen Health” for the remainder of the school year. We hope to shed light on important health topics that are applicable to teens.
An increasingly digital environment has made teen health different than ever before. The same technology that provides a connection to loved ones that are far away and access to a plethora of information also causes a decrease in the mental, physical and social health of teens.
The busy schedules of Gen Z teens, coupled with an attachment to technology, leaves less time and focus on health, and there are many aspects of teen health that are concerning.
A 2019 Stanford study found that “70 percent of high school students do not get the recom- mended 8-10 hours of sleep.” This is largely due to an increase in technology use, which disrupts circadian rhythms and prioritizes screen time over rest.
According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of teens don’t get enough exercise, which they classify as “an hour of medium to vigorous activity each day.”
By high school, teens have many commitments, in and out- side of school. If not directly in- volved in a sport, teens are likely to push exercise to the bottom of their priority list.
Another aspect of health that teens may not prioritize is diet.
According to The American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, “disordered eating related to stress, poor nutritional habits, and food fads are relatively common problems for youth.”
Physical health is not the only important aspect of well-being, mental health is a growing concern among today’s teens.
Depression, anxiety and eating disorders are a few of the many challenging mental health issues that teens face today.
High school is a busy time of life; as students attend school, participate in sports and extra- curricular activities, and socialize with friends. The teenage years are also an important time of growth for the brain and body, so staying physically and emotional- ly healthy is critical.
For the remainder of the school year, NS Times will cover a range of teen health topics, including sleep, diet and mental health. We hope that by discussing these topics, we will bring awareness to teen health and a basis for help and change.
