Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance — United States, 2001

Abstract

Priority health-risk behaviors, which contribute to the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among youth and adults, often are established during youth, extend into adulthood, are interrelated, and are preventable. This report covers data during February-December 2001. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors six categories of priority health-risk behaviors among youth and young adults; these behaviors contribute to unintentional injuries and violence; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use; sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical inactivity. The YRBSS includes a national school-based survey conducted by CDC as well as state, territorial, and local school-based surveys conducted by education and health agencies. This report summarizes results from the national survey, 34 state surveys, and 18 local surveys conducted among students in grades 9-12 during February-December 2001. In the United States, approximately three-fourths of all deaths among persons aged 10-24 years result from only four causes: motor-vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. Results from the 2001 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey demonstrated that numerous high school students engage in behaviors that increase their likelihood of death from these four causes: 14.1% had rarely or never worn a seat belt during the 30 days preceding the survey; 30.7% had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol; 17.4% had carried a weapon during the 30 days preceding the survey; 47.1% had drunk alcohol during the 30 days preceding the survey; 23.9% had used marijuana during the 30 days preceding the survey; and 8.8% had attempted suicide during the 12 months preceding the survey. Substantial morbidity and social problems among young persons also result from unintended pregnancies and STDs, including HIV infection. In 2001, 45.6% of high school students had ever had sexual intercourse; 42.1% of sexually active students had not used a condom at last sexual intercourse; and 2.3% had ever injected an illegal drug. Two-thirds of all deaths among persons aged > or = 25 years result from only two causes: cardiovascular disease and cancer. The majority of risk behaviors associated with these two causes of death are initiated during adolescence. In 2001, 28.5% of high school students had smoked cigarettes during the 30 days preceding the survey; 78.6% had not eaten > or = 5 servings per day of fruits and vegetables during the 7 days preceding the survey; 10.5% were overweight; and 67.8% did not attend physical education class daily. Health and education officials at national, state, and local levels are using these YRBSS data to analyze and improve policies and programs to reduce priority health-risk behaviors among youth. The YRBSS data also are being used to measure progress toward achieving 16 national health objectives for 2010 and 3 of the 10 lead...

Quality of Life and Health Outcomes in Overweight and Non-Overweight Children With Asthma

“…More than a third of adolescents in grades 9 to 12 do not regularly participate in vigorous physical activity (Grunbaum et al, 2004; National Association for Sport and Physical Education & American Heart Association, 2006). Whereas, over 11% of the more than 15,000 high school students surveyed for the 2003 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, reported no moderate to vigorous physical activity (Grunbaum et al, 2004). Overall, among high school students, males are more physically active than females (Grunbaum et al, 2004; National Association for Sport and Physical Education & American Heart Association, 2006).…”

“…Whereas, over 11% of the more than 15,000 high school students surveyed for the 2003 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, reported no moderate to vigorous physical activity (Grunbaum et al, 2004). Overall, among high school students, males are more physically active than females (Grunbaum et al, 2004; National Association for Sport and Physical Education & American Heart Association, 2006).…”

“…Of additional concern is the age-related decline in physical activity from childhood to adolescence, especially among females (Bradley, McMurray, Harrell, & Deng, 2000;Eaton et al, 2006;Gordon-Larsen et al, 2000;Grunbaum et al, 2004;Harrell et al, 1997;Kimm et al, 2000). Results from the 2005 national Youth Risk…”

“…Recent studies have found that African-American and Hispanic children and adolescents participate in fewer vigorous activities and/or more sedentary activities than Whites, with differences noted as early as elementary school (Bradley et al, 2000;Eaton et al, 2006;Gordon-Larsen et al, 2000;Grunbaum et al, 2004;Kimm et al, 2000). Results from the 1996 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health consisting of a study population of over 17,000 adolescents enrolled in US middle and high schools found that moderate to vigorous physical activity was lower and inactivity higher for non-Hispanic black and Hispanic adolescents (Gordon-Larsen et al, 2000).…”

Patterns and Correlates of Physical Activity and Nutrition Behaviors in Adolescents

“…3,5 Data from CDC's 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated that fewer than 22% of high school students consumed the recommended 5 or more servings/day of fruits and vegetables. 6 Meeting the public health recommendations for these four health risk behaviors is expected to improve quality of life and reduce considerably the incidence of obesity and several chronic diseases. 2,7,9 Despite extensive evidence about the high prevalence of risk behaviors, little is known about the relationship among these behaviors, such as their clustering patterns, especially in adolescents.…”