Key indicator area

Outcome

Direction of change in past 30 years

Detail

Cardiovascular risk

Obesity

Increasing

The prevalence of adolescent obesity (defined as BMI ≥95^th centile) has quadrupled in representative samples since 1970s, rising from 4-5% in 1972^w1 to 8% in the mid 1990s^w2 and 21-23% in 2002.

Smoking

Decreasing

There has been no significant change in prevalence of regular smoking amongst adolescents aged 11-15 years since 1982,^w3 while smoking amongst adults declined significantly during the 1980s and early 1990s.^w4

Sexual health

Teenage pregnancy

Decreasing

Live birth rates to women aged 15-19 years in the UK have changed little since the late 1970s, while rates have declined markedly in the same period in other European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands.^w5

STIs

Rates of uncomplicated Chlamydia infections amongst 16-19 year old females doubled during the 1990s in the UK (PHLS).

Mental health

Suicide

Increasing

In contrast to dramatic declines in suicide rates amongst men and women over 45 years of age between 1950 and 1998, amongst 15-24 year olds, suicide rates doubled in young men and remained stable in young women.^{w6 w7}