Adolescence is often filled with anxieties and obstacles, but today’s young people face distinct threats on a scale unmatched by previous generations, as reported in a comprehensive new study on their health and wellness.
The report published on Tuesday in the Lancet, a prominent medical journal, concludes that over one billion individuals aged 10 to 24 are at risk of poor health outcomes by 2030, representing at least half of the global adolescent cohort. Young people are confronting increasing rates of obesity and mental health issues, while also dealing with the impact of digital technologies and an unstable global climate.
“Even I was stunned by the figures and forecasts presented in this study,” remarks Sarah Baird, a professor of global health and economics at George Washington University and co-chair of the Lancet Commission that authored the report. “It’s evident that we are currently experiencing, and will continue to face, a health crisis among young individuals.”
Lancet Commissions are independent research groups assembled by the Lancet to focus on specific health issues and propose policy recommendations. This report was created by a team of 44 experts, including ten Youth Commissioners, who examined approximately 550 peer-reviewed studies since they began their work in 2021. It follows the initial report on adolescent health and well-being published in 2016.
“The realities of being an adolescent today differ significantly from those a decade ago,” states Baird. “With so many competing demands for resources, attention, and focus, adolescents have once again been overlooked. It’s crucial to remind society of their importance and the potential consequences of ignoring them amid this rapid transformation.”
While the report identifies some positive developments—like decreasing rates of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, as well as improved access to education, especially for girls—it also cautions that the health of young people is at “a tipping point” in a rapidly evolving and uncertain environment. Here are some of the primary concerns.
An increasingly hotter and more unstable climate
This generation will be the first to spend their entire lives under the threat of a destabilized global climate.
By the year 2100, it is estimated that 1.8 billion adolescents will face global temperatures that are about 5°F (2.8°C) higher than pre-industrial levels, a change that will exacerbate extreme weather conditions, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, social unrest, and diseases related to heat worldwide.
“I believe it’s challenging for people to fully grasp what a warmer world signifies for health and well-being,” Baird notes. “Young individuals will be around for much longer than older generations, and they stand to lose the most by not investing in the future. Unfortunately, they are often not in positions of power to influence these decisions.”
The digital generation
According to the report, adolescents are “the first global generation of digital natives.”
Globally, 79 percent of 15 to 24-year-olds have access to the internet, with 95 percent of adolescents in high-income and upper-middle-income countries online.
Digital technologies offer significant opportunities but can also expose young people to misinformation, cyberbullying, and distressing content, while fostering social isolation and reducing physical activity.
The maturation of artificial intelligence is expected to amplify both the risks and benefits associated with digital technologies, as noted in the report. There is no universal solution to this intricate issue, so the report recommends various strategies to address it at all levels.
“There are very strong perspectives regarding social media and digital access, but I believe it’s a complex narrative,” Baird says.
“There is also a crucial role for parents, educators, and the adolescents themselves,” she continues. “With AI development, it will require informed individuals and swift policy adjustments to ensure that young people are not adversely affected in this process.”
Rising obesity rates
Obesity rates are climbing across the globe, having increased as much as eightfold in certain regions of Africa and Asia since 1990. The report predicts that approximately 464 million adolescents worldwide will be overweight or obese by 2030 (an increase of 143 million since 2015), a trend that will heighten the risks of obesity-related health issues, such as Type-2 diabetes and heart disease.
The rise in adolescent obesity is associated with greater access to unhealthy foods, which often cost less and are more readily available than healthier options. Sugary drinks, such as sodas or energy beverages, are a significant contributor to this issue: the consumption of these beverages among adolescents has surged by 24 to 33 percent in every region except high-income countries, Latin America, and the Caribbean. More than half of the world’s adolescents now consume sugar-sweetened drinks at least once daily.
Additionally, the report highlights that adolescents are engaging in more sedentary lifestyles, partly due to increased screen time or constraints from factors like air pollution, extreme weather, and other elements that hinder their ability to participate in sports or outdoor activities.
To tackle adolescent obesity, the report suggested the introduction of sugar taxes and the enhancement of sports and fitness programs for youth in underprivileged areas.
A mental health crisis
One of the report’s most distressing forecasts is that, by 2030, mental disorders and suicide could lead to the loss of 42 million years of healthy life, which is an increase of two million compared to 2015. According to the report, mental health is “the single largest cause of disease burden among adolescents across all countries.”
This statistic reinforces a widespread and well-documented mental health crisis among young people, exacerbated by ongoing trends such as digital technology and climate change, along with recent calamities, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Consider the significant disruptions during these crucial years,” Baird states. “They have missed out on education and opportunities to socialize, compounded by various economic crises. They might be experiencing a poorer and more stressed environment.”
The report advocates for the expansion of mental health services aimed at adolescents and encourages communities to tackle the sources of their stress, anxiety, and depression.
Can these trends be reversed?
Aoife Doyle, an associate professor of epidemiology focusing on adolescent health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, concurs that adolescent health and well-being are at a critical juncture.
“The Lancet report presents evidence that too little funding is directed toward adolescent health and well-being, and that existing investments do not correspond with the disease burden faced by adolescents,” states Doyle, who was not involved in the report, via email.
“This compelling evidence should inspire governments and donors to act on their commitments to universal health coverage and offer more suitable and comprehensive health services for adolescents,” she continues.
It’s also important to acknowledge that none of these trends are happening in isolation. For instance, obesity and mental health are significantly influenced by digital technologies and climate-related stress. Nonetheless, Baird finds hope in the resilience and determination of young people as they face these intricate challenges.
“Young individuals are hopeful and possess a sense of optimism,” Baird remarks. “Many still have a positive outlook on the future and are eager to contribute to improving what lies ahead.”