Adults rate drug abuse and childhood obesity as the top health concerns for kids in their communities, according to the fifth annual survey of the top 10 health concerns for kids conducted by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.
Most of the top 10 health concerns pertain to long-recognized risky behaviors for youth: drug, alcohol and tobacco use, as well as teen pregnancy. The top health concerns this year also include new risks associated with children’s use of technology, including internet safety and sexting.
Top 10 Health Concerns
In May 2011, the Poll asked adults to rate 23 different health concerns for children living in their communities. The top 10 overall health concerns for U.S. children in 2011 and the percentage of adults who rate each item as a “big problem” include:
- Childhood obesity, 33%
- Drug abuse, 33%
- Smoking and tobacco use, 25%
- Teen pregnancy, 24%
- Bullying, 24%
- Internet safety, 23%
- Stress, 22%
- Alcohol abuse, 20%
- Driving accidents, 20%
- Sexting, 20%
Here's the full report from C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. You can also join the discussion on their Facebook page.
