Is your teenager skipping breakfast? Why is that happening and what can you do? As per the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which surveyed adolescent health and well-being found that 1 in 4 students in high school ate breakfast, which means 3 in 4 high school students are not eating their breakfast. This data is as per the 2023 survey.

What Did The Study Intend?

The report describes a 10-year long trend and also recent changes among the two years. The study delved deeper into adolescents' dietary, physical activity and sleep behaviors. The study is also based on a national youth risk behavior survey of a representative sample of students from grade nine to 12.

What Did The Study Find?

The study found that while high school students drank slightly less soda and sports drinks and consumed more water, other healthy eating habits declined. In 2023, only 27% of students ate breakfast every day in the past week. The numbers were even lower for female students, with just 22% eating breakfast daily, compared to 32% of male students. Boys were also more likely to eat fruits and vegetables daily and drink water at least three times a day. Poor mental health and lack of physical activity have also been linked to skipping breakfast.

The other findings included a survey across 10-year period, where a decrease in the percentage of students eating fruits from 65% to 55%, eating vegetables, from 61% to 58%, and having breakfast daily from 38% to 27% was noted.

However, there was a positive trend among this, which was in children drinking plain water at least three times a day, which increased from 49% to 54% from when the survey began in 2015.. There were fewer students who also said that they drank soda in 2023 than in 2013. On an average, in 2013, around 22% students avoided soda, whereas in 2023, 31% students avoided it.

The report also emphasized that a healthy diet, along with daily physical activity and sufficient sleep further contributes to a healthy lifestyle. “The 10-year trends from 2013 to 2023 also show a decline in healthy dietary, physical activity, and sleep behaviors,” the survey reported.

Why Do High School Students Skip Breakfast?

While there is no one straightforward answer to it, psychologists and those who study children, believe that for many high school going kids, it is the easiest time to skip a meal. This is because they are caught between rushing to school, or not just that hungry in the morning. So for them, to sit down to have a breakfast may seem hassle and something they would have to take time out from their busy schedule. They at this age also prioritize their extra-curricular activities.

There has also been a shift in their circadian rhythm, and most teens cannot fall asleep before 11 pm, or even at midnight. Which means they wake up tired and struggle to do things right in the morning, which is why they choose to skip breakfast or give extra minutes to any other activities.

There is of course another, more popular reason, to lose weight. While experts and studies, like the one published in the Journal of Nutrition that found skipping breakfast leads to higher levels of hunger hormones, the students still feel the need to do this. However, it could lead to a slow metabolism, prompt the body to conserve energy and burn fewer calories, weight gain and deprive yo off the essential nutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamin D.

Without a morning breakfast, your blood sugar might drop too, which can increase irritability and stress, along with including the risk of depression in teenage.

There is an outbreak of food poisoning in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. Notably, almost all cases are linked to the same strain, thus suggesting a common source of infection. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has confirmed 83 cases of Salmonella Stanley ST2045 in the first week of June, and of these, 20 have been hospitalized.

The ECDC also states that 26 more cases are not sequenced and may also be linked to the outbreak.

As per the health authorities, the cases have been found in nations including the United Kingdom, Austria, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, and the Netherlands.

The ECDC has said, “collaborating closely with the affected countries and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)”.

Gauri Godbole, Deputy Director of Gastrointestinal Infections at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), told journalists, “We are supporting an ongoing investigation into an international Salmonella outbreak, with most reported cases occurring in children and young people."

She also added that the current findings are leading the health authorities to the possibility that the source of the outbreak was potentially chicken‑flavoured instant noodles or processed chicken products, or both, as they share ingredients.

“Salmonella generally causes a mild illness, although vulnerable groups with weakened immune systems may experience more severe illness.” She added.

Though ECDC also states that not all cases can be explained by exposure to these instant noodles. They emphasized ongoing investigations into the cases. They added, “Based on what is currently known, the overall risk of Salmonella Stanley infection is assessed as very low for the general population and low for children and young adults, as long as cooking instructions are adhered to.”

What Is Salmonella?

As per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis. It can be spread by food handlers who do not wash their hands and/or the surfaces and tools they use between food preparation steps. It can also happen when people consume uncooked and raw food. Salmonella can also spread from animals to people.

The FDA notes that people who have direct contact with certain animals, including poultry and reptiles, can spread the bacteria from the animal to food if hand washing hygiene is not practiced.

Pets, too, could spread the bacteria within the home environment if they eat food contaminated with Salmonella.

Also Read: Ebola Outbreak Escalates: Uganda Rushes Medics To Congo Border Regions

Common symptoms of Salmonella include:

• diarrhea,
• fever,
• stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria.
• The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment, though in some cases it may lead to hospitalization.

Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness.

Ebola is still showing no sign of slowing down as the patient count is still increasing steadily, and the country that has faced the most adverse effects of this is the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), followed by its neighboring nation, Uganda, but it is still trying to help DRC even while trying to contain the fatal disease within its borders.

Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at Uganda's Ministry of Health, said that Uganda has deployed a team of health workers to DRC to contain the outbreak. She made that statement while she was in a meeting with visiting World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Kampala.

As per the post by the health ministry of Uganda, it is also setting up 50-bed treatment units to support Ebola response efforts in eastern DRC, which is considered the epicenter of the disease.

What Is The Current Situation Of Ebola In Africa?

The situation regarding the outbreak of Ebola is nowhere near slowing down, and the World Health Organization (WHO) said that this outbreak of Ebola is far from under control. The outbreak of the disease in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring Uganda has already reached the 500 mark.

On Saturday, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported that its total number of Ebola cases had increased to 488 from 515 cases and caused 91 deaths. Its neighbor, Uganda, also has reported 19 cases.

This time, the Ebola outbreak has caused most harm to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and during this mayhem, its neighboring nation, Uganda, which is also fighting to contain the disease as it is also seeing a surge in cases, has completely closed off its western border with DRC.

The worsening condition of the situation is clear, as the global health monitoring organization, the World Health Organization (WHO), has already declared the outbreak an international public health emergency.

Also Read: AIIMS Delhi Study Warns Air Pollution May Harm Unborn Babies

What Is Ebola?

Ebola is a severe and deadly disease caused by a virus mostly found in Africa. The spread of the disease happens through contact with infected body fluids.

Some symptoms can indicate a possible infection. This includes fever, headache, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, sore throat, and unexplained bleeding. This eventually leads to severe complications like bleeding, organ failure, and death.

Ebola is a highly lethal viral hemorrhagic fever first identified in 1976. Over the past five decades, it has caused over 30 outbreaks, primarily in Central and West Africa. The virus takes its name from the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Three strains of the virus — Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Bundibugyo virus — have caused the largest outbreaks in Africa. Among them, the Ebola virus is considered the deadliest, with fatality rates reaching up to 90% without treatment.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to announce a crackdown on children's access to social media within days. A speech from the prime minister, which is expected to include a new policy on social media, is planned for next week.

The UK is the latest country considering restrictions on social media use among those under the age of 16 amid growing concerns about mental health, online abuse, and child protection.

Several countries have introduced or proposed regulations on children's access to social media as concerns mount over the impact of these platforms on young people's health and safety.

A look at the countries planning to implement social media ban:

Australia: Banned social media for children under 16, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

China: Uses a "minor mode" system that limits screen time and access based on a child's age.

Denmark: Plans to ban social media for children under 15, with limited parental exceptions for those aged 13–14.

France: Approved a bill to ban social media for children under 15, pending final legislative approval.

Germany: Children aged 13–16 can use social media only with parental consent.

Greece: Preparing to introduce a social media ban for children under 15.

India: Karnataka has banned social media for children under 16. Other states like Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Bihar are considering age restrictions.

Italy: Children under 14 need parental consent to create social media accounts.

Malaysia: Barred users under 16 from registering new social media accounts.

Norway: Proposed raising the minimum age for social media consent from 13 to 15 and introducing a 15-year minimum age limit.

Poland: Drafted legislation to ban social media for children under 15 and require age verification.

Slovenia: Preparing a law that would prohibit social media access for children under 15.

Spain: Plans to ban social media access for minors under 16 and require age verification.

Sweden: A government commission has recommended a minimum social media age of 15.

Turkey: Passed legislation banning social media use by children under 15.

United States: Several states require parental consent for minors, while federal legislation seeks stronger protections for young users.

European Union: Considering stricter child safety rules, including parental consent for under-16s and a ban for children under 13.

Will A Blanket Ban on Social Media Work?

Also read: Is India Set To Implement A Social Media Ban For Children?

Blocking children from social media is no substitute for making platforms safe in the first place, the UN human rights office warned last month.

"Online harms to children's safety, privacy, and wellbeing result from design choices and business practices that undermine safety, including addictive features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and persistent notifications," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Türk cautioned that such bans can be easily circumvented and risk pushing children towards riskier, less-monitored spaces.

"Simply limiting access to platforms that remain unsafe cannot stand as the endpoint," he said.

The UN Office also issued a 10-point framework urging governments and technology companies to go further and faster in protecting children online. The guidelines, titled Getting Children's Safety Online Right, come as age-based social media restrictions proliferate worldwide. It includes:

• Embedding child safety measures directly into platform design from the outset.

• Not leaving parents and children solely responsible for managing online risks.

• Conducting mandatory child-rights impact assessments for digital platforms.

• Implementing tightly regulated age-verification systems to protect privacy.

• Consulting children meaningfully when developing online safety regulations and policies.

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"The intent to protect young minds from addiction, misinformation, and harmful content is welcome. However, effectiveness will depend less on restricting children and more on regulating platforms," Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, Chairman of Health Parliament, creator of SHE App, and former adviser to the Union Health Minister, told HealthandMe.

"Stronger platform accountability, age-appropriate design, and algorithmic responsibility are crucial. Combined with digital literacy and parental awareness, oversight and control, such measures can create a healthier digital ecosystem. Without platform control, regulations risk remaining largely symbolic," Dr. Gupta said.

With inputs from Reuters