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Teen Health News & Features
Frequency of Social Media Use Affects Teen Brains, Study Says
- Teen Brains Aged Faster During the Pandemic: Study
December 2, 2022 — Besides causing mental health problems in some teenagers, the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic also sped up the aging process in adolescents’ brains, a new study says.
- A Teen Girl's Diet Could Impact Her Odds for Menstrual Pain
October 12, 2022 — An analysis of peer-reviewed studies on diet and menstrual period pain finds foods high in omega-6 fatty acids promoted inflammation, a key culprit in menstrual pain.
- As Teens Struggle With Pandemic Emotions, Recovery Is Uncertain
April 26, 2022 — It’s unclear whether the disruption of the pandemic is a blip on the radar or the early signs of a generation permanently stunted in its social and mental health development.
- 'Bigorexia': Why Teenage Boys are Obsessed with Bulking Up
March 10, 2022 — So- called bigorexia -- or extreme gym time, excessive focus on protein diets, and intense muscle-building goals -- has hit new and concerning levels.
- Vagisil Offered Teens a Vaginal 'Glow Up.' Docs Cry Foul
March 2, 2021 — Vagisil marketed a new 'feminine hygiene' product to teen girls. Doctors are taking the company to task on social media, calling the product 'predatory.'
- Many LGBTQ Youth Suffer From Mental Health Woes
July 21, 2020 — According to the report, 46% of the respondents wanted help from a mental health professional but couldn't get it in the past year.
- Parents Can Help Their Sleep-Deprived Teens
January 15, 2020 — American teens aren't getting enough sleep, which can lead to anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.
- Many Dietary Supplements Dangerous for Teens
June 5, 2019 — Weight-loss, muscle-building and energy supplements were linked with an almost three times greater risk of severe medical problems compared with vitamins, the findings showed.
- Youth Suicide Rates Spike After '13 Reasons Why'
April 30, 2019 — The Netflix series “13 Reasons Why” included a graphic depiction of a death by suicide, which can trigger suicidal behavior, the study author said.
- Don't Brand Teen Sexting as Child Porn: Experts
April 15, 2019 — A recent study of Pennsylvania high school students found that 29% were "engaged in consensual sexting."
- States Raising Smoking Age to Combat Teen Vaping
March 15, 2019 — Newly released numbers from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey show more than 3.6 million teens used e-cigarettes in 2018. Those numbers include a 78% increase from 2017 in use among high schoolers and a 48% increase among middle schoolers.
- Mumps Outbreak Reported at Temple U.
March 8, 2019 — The Philadelphia university reported the first case of the contagious, vaccine-preventable disease on Feb. 28.
- Surgeon General: Take Steps to Stop Teen E-Cig Use
December 18, 2018 — The sale of e-cigarettes to those under 18 is illegal under federal law.
- Sex, Drugs Hold Less Allure for High Schoolers
June 14, 2018 — Between 2007 and 2017, the percentage of high school students who said they had ever had sex fell from 48 percent to 39.5 percent, and the percentage who said they'd had four or more sexual partners decreased from 15 percent to just under 10 percent.
- Big Rise in U.S. Kids, Teens Attempting Suicide
May 16, 2018 — Suicide is now the third leading cause of death among American adolescents, the study authors noted.
- Too Much Facebook, Instagram Can Be Tough on Girls
March 20, 2018 — Girls are much more active on social media early in their adolescence, and the time they spend there appears to reduce their happiness and lower their sense of well-being, the researchers said.
- 1 in 3 Young Adults Ride With Impaired Drivers
March 19, 2018 — Riding with a marijuana-impaired driver was more common than riding with an alcohol-impaired driver, researchers found.
- 'Cutting,' Self-Harm Raise Suicide Risk for Teens
March 19, 2018 — Among teenagers and young adults diagnosed with a "self-harm" injury, the risk of suicide in the next year was nearly 27 times higher than the U.S. norm, researchers found.
- Weight-Loss Surgery Beats Meds for Obese Teens
March 14, 2018 — This is important information because more than 5,000 Americans under age 20 are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes every year.
- Certain Teens More Likely to Get Hooked on Opioids
March 12, 2018 — The odds of progressing to long-term opioid therapy can double, triple or more, depending on the kid's diagnosis and the other drugs prescribed to treat their disorder, the researchers said.
- Screen Teens For Depression Annually, Docs Say
February 27, 2018 — The recommendation for universal screening is a change from the previous guidelines, published a decade ago, and is the first step in a larger strategy that should be followed when a doctor suspects a teenage patient might be depressed.
- Teen Drinking Ups Risk for Liver Diseases Later
January 22, 2018 — Men who started drinking in their teens are at increased risk for liver disease, Swedish researchers report.
- Good News, Parents: Teens Are Delaying Having Sex
January 4, 2018 — The proportion of high school students who've ever had sex decreased to 41 percent in 2015, continuing a downward trend from 47 percent in 2005 and 53 percent in 1995, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Who's Most Distracted Behind the Wheel?
November 24, 2017 — Texting, talking on cellphones, eating, drinking -- distractions such as these are a driving hazard, and are more likely to occur among young men, new research shows.
- Keeping Your Driving Teen Focused on the Road
October 24, 2017 — Distractions at the wheel are major cause of needless tragedies, experts say
- Smartphones, Screens Sabotaging Teens' Sleep
October 20, 2017 — Study found more adolescents getting less rest because of temptations of technology
- Self-Harm on the Rise Among Teen Girls
October 19, 2017 — Behavior was strongly linked to greater suicide risk, UK study found
- Fewer U.S. Kids Binge Drinking
June 23, 2017 — But 1 in 7 still had excess alcohol at least once in past month, study finds
- Most U.S. Teens Aren't 'Doing It'
June 22, 2017 — By 18, more than half of adolescents were still virgins, new CDC survey reveals
- U.S. Teen Births Hit Historic Low: CDC
May 30, 2017 — More older women having children, study finds
- Kids in College Drink More, Smoke Less
August 16, 2016 — Full-time students aged 18 to 22 also have higher rates of binge-drinking, survey finds
- Concussion Study Shows Player Hits Most Damaging
July 18, 2016 — Running longer before the contact happens also spells more trouble
- Hormone May Be Linked to Teenage Obesity
May 24, 2016 — Researchers suspect low levels of spexin might play contributing role
- Fatty Foods in Teens and Later Breast Cancer Risk
May 19, 2016 — Higher amounts of unhealthy fats tied to greater breast density, researchers suggest
- HS Football Players and Symptoms After Concussion
May 2, 2016 — Meanwhile, youth league players most likely to return to field less than 24 hours after head injury
- Teen Birth Rate at Record Low in U.S.
April 28, 2016 — They're delaying sex, using more effective birth control, CDC researcher says
- Guidelines on Breast, Genital Surgery for Teens
April 22, 2016 — Leading ob/gyn group says growing interest in procedures prompted recommendations
- CDC: Teen Tobacco Use Stable; E-Cigs May Be Why
April 14, 2016 — Electronic smoking devices have now eclipsed traditional cigarettes as most widely used product among kids
- Teen Obesity May Up Middle-Age Illness, Death Risk
April 13, 2016 — Health experts worry trend will only get worse, since teens followed in long-term study were thinner than kids today
- Teenage Girls Now Try Alcohol Before Boys Do
April 12, 2016 — When it comes to drinking, the gender gap is disappearing, experts say
- Does Your Teen Have a Mental Health Problem?
March 29, 2016 — 1 in 5 kids develop a serious problem but many go years without treatment, psychiatrist says
- The Pill Tied to Fewer Knee Injuries in Teen Girls
March 23, 2016 — Study reinforces theory that estrogen may be why females suffer more ACL problems than males
- Condom Use Falls When Teen Girls Use IUDs vs. Pill
March 14, 2016 — Experts say young women need to remember that STDs are still a danger
- Chemical-Free Cosmetics: Safer for Teen Girls?
March 7, 2016 — Lower levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals seen in adolescents after trying products without potentially harmful ingredients
- Loose Helmets Tied to Worse Teen Concussions
March 4, 2016 — High schools should have athletic trainers check players' head gear for proper fit, doctor says
- Young Athletes, Parental Pressure and 'Doping'
February 29, 2016 — 'Tiger parenting' can have dire consequences, researcher contends
- Vaccine Cuts Teen Girls' HPV Rates by Two-Thirds
February 22, 2016 — Still, too few girls and boys getting vaccinated against the virus that causes cervical cancer, other malignancies, researchers say
- More Fiber May Mean Lower Breast Cancer Risk Later
February 1, 2016 — Start eating vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains early in life, experts say
- Stress-Prone Teen Boys May Risk High BP Later
February 1, 2016 — Study suggests young men who had most trouble coping were at greater risk of hypertension in middle age