Obesity, mental ill-health and infertility, thats the fate awaiting many young people in the UK, as the health care system fails to meet their needs.
A new report by the British Medical Association (BMA), calls for increased government investment to tackle the specific health issues of adolescents.
Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the 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."
Some of the more shocking statistics in this report include:
One in five young people aged between 13 to 16 are overweight
One in four of 15 and 16 year olds smoke
One in five adolescents may have experienced psychological problems
As many as one in ten women aged between 16 and 19 may be infected with chlamydia
This report explores four areas impacting on adolescent health: nutrition, exercise and obesity; smoking, drinking and drug use; mental health; and sexual health.
Arguably, this is more than a failure of the health care system, but rather a longterm failure to invest in public health with its focus on prevention of ill-health in the first place.
