Young people in Brandenburg: Alcohol is falling, obesity is increasing!

Young people in Brandenburg: Alcohol is falling, obesity is increasing!

In Brandenburg, the new child and youth health report is the focus of the current discussion. Loud rbb24 The study shows that the physical and mental health conditions of our young people have become worrying in recent years. The increase in overweight students is particularly noticeable. Almost a third of 10th graders weigh too much, which is a worrying increase compared to 2006.

Health Minister Britta Müller emphasizes that the focus must be on more exercise and healthy eating. What's alarming is that less than half of 11- to 15-year-olds eat breakfast every day; almost a third even forego this most important meal entirely. Only about 40 percent of young people have the habit of eating dinner with their family. Actually, being together at the table should be a given in the family!

Health challenges

The numbers speak volumes: 17 percent of young people drink sugary soft drinks every day and 30 percent regularly snack on sweets. While alcohol consumption among young people is fortunately decreasing - only 14 percent of boys and 10 percent of girls drink at least once a week - lower physical activity and unbalanced diets remain worrying. Only 40 percent of young people achieve the hour of physical activity per day recommended by the WHO.

The connection between obesity and mental health problems is becoming increasingly clear. According to the Obesity Foundation Psychological aspects can influence weight development. Psychological stress is often compensated for by overeating, which promotes weight gain. In addition, being overweight further increases the risk of diseases such as type II diabetes and permanently worsens the quality of life.

Growing worries

Another worrying sign is the declining life expectancy of our young people. Psychosomatic complaints are increasing; 40 percent report at least two complaints several times a week, with irritability and sleep problems being particularly common. This shows that the mental challenges of stress and lifestyle have a significant impact on young people's health.

At the request of Minister Müller, a new school subject called “Life and Health Skills” is to be introduced. This subject could cover important topics such as rental agreements, dealing with lack of exercise and the effects of cell phone use on health. Increased smartphone consumption has certainly also contributed to reduced exercise.

In recent years, sports clubs have fortunately recorded an upward development, which was triggered by the corona pandemic. Membership numbers in particular have reached record highs. However, only 43 percent of students play sports outside of school, which shows that there is still a lot of work to do.

The current findings are a clear wake-up call for parents, teachers and decision-makers to act proactively and meet the needs of our young people. It remains to be hoped that the coming measures will actually bear fruit and sustainably improve the health of our children and young people.