News

Smoking still a core challenge for child and adolescent health reveals WHO report 05-06-2020

The latest Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study focusing on adolescent health and well-being has revealed that levels of cigarette-smoking are worryingly high, particularly among 15-year-olds. In this age group, 15% of adolescents report having smoked a cigarette at least once in the past 30 days and nearly 1 in 3 mentioned having tried smoking (27% of girls and 29% of boys).

WHO report on health behaviours of 11–15-year-olds in Europe reveals more adolescents are reporting mental health concerns 19-05-2020

In around a third of countries, the report reveals a rise in adolescents feeling pressured by schoolwork and a decline in young people reporting to like school. The report also discloses that over 1 in 10 adolescents report having been cyberbullied at least once in the past two months.

Nordic collaboration tracks positive mental health among adolescents 19-05-2020

Repeated rounds of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Sweden during the 1990s highlighted a worrying spike in health complaints among the nation’s young people. This led to the government investing heavily in schools and the coordination of work to protect and promote good mental health.

France: data collection helps policy-makers devise careful prevention strategies to improve adolescent health 18-05-2020

In France, researchers working on adolescent health found that merging 2 major surveys could innovate the collection of public health data on young people and deliver more accurate insights on which to build policies.

Serbia conducts first study on schoolchildren’s health behaviour 07-11-2019

With tobacco and alcohol consumption remaining high among Serbian youth, preventive activities must be strengthened. This is one of the main findings of the first-ever Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Serbia, conducted in 2017–2018 by the Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Serbia together with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education. Serbia is now part of the HBSC network of 49 countries that conduct this type of study every 4 years.

Turning HBSC study data into action: advancing the fight against sugar in Latvia 09-08-2017

Manufacturers of sugary drinks tend to target their marketing at young people, and young people – particularly older boys – respond with enthusiasm. These drinks are low in nutrients and high in sugar: a single can (375 ml) usually contains 40 g of sugar. WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake, which for boys means no more than 75 g per day in total, and for girls means even less. The effects of high sugar intake on health can be seen in increasing rates of obesity, poor dental health and chronic diseases such as diabetes.

Turning HBSC study data into action: taxing alcopops in Germany 09-08-2017

In 2003, the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study revealed a worrying trend in Germany – young people were drinking more and more. Ten percent of 13-year-olds were drinking alcohol at least once a week, as were 40% of 15-year-old boys and 25% of 15-year-old girls. This was partly due to the widespread use of alcopops, whose sales had more than tripled in 2001 alone.

Turning HBSC study data into action: tackling mental ill health in Sweden 09-08-2017

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the Swedish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study has shown an alarming increase in young people experiencing multiple health complaints. In response, researchers conducted a nationwide study in 2009 to collect data from almost 170 000 young people between the ages of 12 and 15. Acting on its findings, the Swedish Government decided to invest heavily in schools and health-care systems to identify young people at risk of mental health problems, and to provide support. It also invested 30 million euros in research programmes on effective interventions.

Turning HBSC study data into action: creating a strategy for pregnancy and parenthood in young people in the United Kingdom 09-08-2017

As sexual activity is a very personal and private issue, data are often lacking in this area. The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Scotland is particularly valuable because it provides the only nationally representative and internationally comparable data on the sexual behaviour of Scottish youth. Its findings are shaping public health policy in the country.

Turning HBSC study data into action: getting the picture in Armenia 09-08-2017

What is going on with young people? How do they really feel, how do they spend their time, and what do girls and boys need? Parents and policy-makers are often at a loss to answer these questions accurately.

Moscow hosts media launch of Russian HBSC report on adolescent obesity trends 27-06-2017

On 6 June 2017 in Moscow, Russian Federation, the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases with the support of the Russian Ministry of Health held a press conference to present the Russian-language version of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) report on adolescent obesity.

Launch of international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children report in Moscow, Russian Federation 10-01-2017

On 14 December 2016, the launch of the latest international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) report in Russian – “Growing up unequal: gender and socioeconomic differences in young people’s health and well-being” – took place in Moscow, Russian Federation. The survey results from the Russian Federation were highlighted within the context of international findings and trends.

First HBSC national report in Republic of Moldova 05-04-2016

The results of the first national Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) report "Behavioural and social determinants of adolescent health" were presented on 30 March 2016 in Chisinau, during a press conference organized by the Ministry of Health, the WHO Country Office in the Republic of Moldova and the national HBSC research team.

National conference presents new HBSC report in Poland 01-04-2016

The Polish Ministry of Health, the Institute of Mother and Child, and the WHO Country Office in Poland organized on 15 March 2016 a national conference presenting the new HBSC report "Growing up unequal: gender and socioeconomic differences in young people's health and well-being".

New WHO study reveals that while smoking by school-aged children has declined significantly, young people’s health and well-being is being undermined by gender and social inequalities 15-03-2016

A new pan-European WHO survey of schoolchildren reveals that the proportion of 15-year-olds who first smoked at the age of 13 has fallen significantly since 2010. The report goes on, however, to warn that while 80% of respondents report generally high rates of life satisfaction, differences between genders and socioeconomic status are adversely affecting many young people's health, well-being and lifestyle choices at a critical stage in their development.