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.

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, passed by both Houses of Parliament, marks a significant step towards decriminalizing the health sector by amending certain provisions and boosting compliance.

The Union Health Ministry said that the Bill reflects the Government’s commitment to fostering a trust-based governance framework and ensuring proportionate regulation by reducing the compliance burden on individuals and businesses.

The reforms involving 23 Ministries rationalized over 1,000 offences across 79 Central Acts. These are aimed at helping advance Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living across sectors.

It makes a key shift from criminal penalties to civil penalties as well as introduces adjudication mechanisms. The amendments ensure consistency, predictability, and proportionality in enforcement, the Ministry said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the passing of the Jan Vishwas Bill by the Parliament "a matter of immense delight".

"This Bill strengthens a trust-based framework that empowers our citizens. It marks the end of rules and regulations that are outdated. At the same time, it ensures speedy disposal of cases, reduces litigation burden with decriminalization," PM Modi added.

Know ALL About the Jan Vishwas Bill

• Within the health sector, several provisions have been amended in key legislation, such as the

Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 -- to substitute imprisonment with financial penalties and to introduce a structured adjudication mechanism.

Pharmacy Act, 1948 -- to modernize penalty provisions and enhance accountability through increased financial penalties for non-compliance.

Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 -- to strengthen enforcement while ensuring that penalties are proportionate to the nature of the offence.

Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 - to emphasize monetary penalties for non-compliance, particularly in cases where deficiencies do not pose immediate risks to patient safety.

National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 -- to ensure compliance with professional standards and regulatory requirements, with penalties designed to deter violations while maintaining proportionality.

• The new Bill replaces criminal penalties, particularly imprisonment for minor procedural violations, with graded monetary penalties.

The Bill introduces a civil penalty framework to reduce the burden on courts, minimize layers of litigation, and enable faster resolution of minor compliance issues.

In the case of cosmetics, minor violations (other than spurious or adulterated) will not require court intervention and can instead be addressed through a civil penalty framework.

Further, violations such as non-maintenance of documents or non-submission of information, which were earlier punishable through court-imposed fines or imprisonment, can now be adjudicated through this civil penalty mechanism.

For the first time, the Act provides for the appointment of adjudicating authorities by the Central Government and State Governments, along with a defined process involving issuance of show cause notices, provision for personal hearing, and an appellate mechanism.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda noted that the Jan Vishwas Bill, "aims to remove outdated laws, reduce unnecessary legal burdens, and create a system that responds faster to people’s needs".

"These reforms will streamline operations for Indian medical devices manufacturers, enhance global competitiveness, and align with international best practices, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare delivery across the country," Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator of The Association of Indian Medical Devices Industry (AiMeD).

The US Food and Drug Administration has recalled over three million eye drops in the country over safety concerns.

The 3,111,072 products were manufactured by California-based K C Pharmaceuticals and were sold under names such as “Dry Eye Relief Eye Drops,” “Sterile Eye Drops,” and “Artificial Tears Sterile Lubricant Eye Drops,” according to the FDA notice.

K C Pharmaceuticals made the voluntary recall of the eye drops in early March.

The eight types of eye drop products were sold at major retailers, including CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. They have expiration dates ranging from April to October.

Eye Drops: Why Are These Recalled? What Did The US FDA Say

The FDA, in its Enforcement Reports, stated that the products recalled “lack of assurance of sterility.”

While so far, there are no reports of injuries associated with the eye drops, the FDA notice classified the action as a “Class II recall.”

Class II recalls apply to products that can cause “temporary or medically reversible” health problems.

As per the FDA, "the probability of a serious health issue is remote," over these products, and that is why the recall is categorized as a Class II, USA TODAY reported

"Patients and consumers can continue using the medicine unless otherwise directed by the recalling company or FDA," the regulator said in a statement to the publication.

Also read: Can 'Eye Strain' Lead To Brain Cancer? Experts Explain

Which Eye Drops Have Been Recalled?

NBC News reported that the recalled products include:

1. Sterile Eye Drops AC (tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%, zinc sulfate 0.25%), 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) bottles
2. EYE DROPS Advanced Relief, (dextran 70 0.1%, polyethylene glycol 400 1%, and tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%), 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) bottles
3. Dry Eye Relief Eye Drops (glycerin 0.2%, hypromellose 0.2%, and polyethylene glycol 400 1%) 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) bottles
4. Ultra Lubricating Eye Drops (polyethylene 400 0.4%, propylene glycol 0.3%), Sterile, 0.5 fl oz (15mL) bottles
5. Sterile Eye Drops Original Formula (tetrahydrozoline HCl 0.05%), 0.5 fl oz (15mL) bottles.
6. Sterile Eye Drops Redness Lubricant (glycerin 0.25% and naphazoline HCl 0.012%), 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) bottles
7. Sterile Eye Drops Soothing Tears (polyethylene glycol 400 0.4% and propylene glycol 0.3%), 0.5 OZ 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) bottles.
8. Artificial Tears Sterile Lubricant Eye Drops (polyvinyl alcohol 0.5%, povidone 0.6%), 0.5 fl oz (15 mL) bottles.

Here’s What You Can Do Instead?

Also read: Struggling With Dry Eyes? Study Reveals Surprising Treatment- Tips To Prevent This Disease

The key to ensuring that your eyes are protected from environmental factors like the sun, dust, and dirt, especially for those who work outdoors or spend long hours on screen, is investing in good sunglasses with ultraviolet protection.

"For those who are using computers a lot, you need to blink your eyes constantly, take breaks in between, and drink a lot of water. Dehydration is also a contributing factor to dry eye," Dr Anita Sethi, who is Principal Director and HOD Ophthalmology, Max Multi Specialty Centre at Panchsheel Park.

She also recommends using zero-number protective glasses and computer glasses that can decrease strain and dry eye.

While advising people to stay away from natural remedies like turmeric or ginger put inside the eye, Dr Sethi urged people to consume more “foods rich in vitamin E, antioxidants” to maintain eye health.

“Colored vegetables and fruits, and even maintaining thyroid and vitamin D levels, because these also contribute to dry eye,” the ophthalmologist said.

Smokers turn to vaping thinking that it is cooler and more convenient. Little do they realise that this seemingly convenient act could cause long-term damage, most of it irreversible. Scientists now fear that vaping could be linked to not one, but two forms of cancer. E-cigarettes can trigger lung and mouth cancer, and this is a consequence of the DNA-damaging chemicals found in vapes. Researchers at the University of New South Wales in Sydney came to this conclusion after reviewing studies on mice that developed lung tumours after being exposed to aerosol. Reports also suggest that heavy smokers are more prone to mouth cancer.

Why are vaping pens linked to cancer?

Vapour from pens has a relatively better fragrance compared to conventional cigarettes, as these pens are flavoured. However, researchers say that these pens contain chemicals that can cause cancer, damage DNA, and lead to tissue inflammation. Researchers also say that e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is likely to trigger lung and mouth cancer. However, the extent of this effect in humans is still unknown.

Read more: Parents Who Smoke May Be Passing Severe Lung Disease Risk To Their Children

Lead researchers of the study said that they would only be able to determine the precise risk once long-term studies are available. Contrary to popular belief, while many believe that vaping is far safer than smoking, the study’s findings act as a warning for all those who use a vape but have not smoked a cigarette in their life. Experts at the University of Sydney noted that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking for smokers. However, the research has drawn criticism for being “problematic” and “misleading”.

Experts at University College London said that no one would argue that e-cigarettes are completely risk-free. Rather, they said, vapes should be used as a harm-reduction tool to help smokers quit the habit, thereby reducing their risk of chronic and acute health problems, such as heart disease. The review, however, does not give a free pass to use e-cigarettes. It issues a warning against the use of vapes, citing risks of lung and oral cancer. At a time when vape use has increased suddenly, overtaking the popularity of smoking, research is necessary to discourage people, especially youngsters, from adopting the habit in the first place.