UK teens destroying health in later life - timebomb

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 09 Dec 2003 - 0:00 PDT

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The British Medical Association (BMA) says that obesity, excessive consumption of alcohol and promiscuity amongst UK teenagers is creating a 'potential public health timebomb'.

The BMA is urging the authorities to take action and reverse the worsening trends in adolescent health. England's Chief Medical Officer predicts that children could die before their parents.

The BMA says that the urgent problem of child health in the UK is on a number of fronts.

The number of overweight kids in the UK has doubled in the last twenty years. In fact, 20% of all 15 year olds in the country are classed as 'obese'.

Underage drinking has increased rapidly. It is not uncommon for under 16s to drink an average of ten units of alcohol a week (five pints of beer, ten glasses of wine) regularly, week after week throughout the year.

60% of young people in the UK (aged 16-24) say they have unprotected sex (without the use of a condom). Rates of sexually transmitted diseases is soaring among 16 to 24 year-olds.

25% of 15 year-olds smoke regularly. 30% of this age group has tried cannabis.

Vivienne Nathanson (BMA's Head of Science and Ethics) said, 'Young people in Britain are increasingly likely to be overweight, indulge in binge drinking, have a sexually transmitted infection and suffer mental health problems. It is high time we provided education and healthcare services that target the specific needs of young people. We need to ensure that young people do not fall in between the gap between services for children and those designed for adults.'

Doctors are already seeing cases of 13 year-olds with diabetes as a result of poor diet and lack of exercise. Doctors are worried that these kids will become more susceptible to heat disease and cancer during early adulthood.

The rise in chlamydia (sex disease) is very worrying for doctors. Chlamydia can remain hidden for years, but it causes fertility problems, leaving women unable to conceive.

The UK government is already starting some campaigns. There is an initiative underway at the moment where children will receive free school fruit.

The government is being criticised by the general population for allowing state schools to sell off thousands of playing fields to developers.

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