More High School Students Are Skipping Their Breakfast, Finds Study

Updated Feb 5, 2025 | 10:00 AM IST

SummaryWithout a morning breakfast, your blood sugar might drop, which can increase irritability and stress, along with including the risk of depression in teenage.
People having breakfast

Credits: Canva

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.

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New AI Toothbrush Films Inside Your Mouth, Spots Missed Areas & Targets Them: How Could It Improve Oral Health?

Updated Sep 2, 2026 | 04:14 PM IST

SummaryA newly-developed AI toothbrush lets you see your teeth while you brush and helps you cover spots you are most likely to miss.
New AI Toothbrush Films Inside Your Mouth, Spots Missed Areas & Targets Them: How Could It Improve Oral Health?

Credit: X

Gone are the days when teeth brushing involved just a toothbrush and toothpaste. It seems that the future of ultimate oral health is here as a newly developed AI toothbrush lets you see parts of your mouth to see parts that you may miss.

The electric toothbrush with a built-in camera and machine-learning technology that watches the mouth while you brush. The device is designed to identify gaps between teeth in real time and direct a targeted stream of mouth rinse into those areas.

The technology is aimed at the spaces between teeth, one of the most easily missed parts of daily oral hygiene.

How Does The Camera Toothbrush Work?

The toothbrush has a 100,000-pixel macro-lens camera built into the brush head. Its Gap Optical Targeting system analyses 28 images every second, using machine learning to detect, track and predict the position of gaps between teeth.

When it identifies a gap, the toothbrush can automatically trigger a precision conical jet of mouth rinse, directing up to 0.15ml of liquid between the teeth.

In other words, instead of simply brushing over the surfaces of the teeth, the device attempts to identify where cleaning is being missed and target those areas while you continue brushing.

The camera also streams live footage to a specifically designed app, allowing users to see their brushing technique and coverage.

Also read: Vitamin D3 Outperforms D2 In Maintaining Muscle, Heart Function, Shows ICMR Study

The Gaps Between Teeth Are Important

Brushing alone cannot adequately reach every tight space between teeth. Food particles and plaque can become trapped there, allowing bacteria to accumulate.

If plaque remains undisturbed, it can harden into tartar and contribute to gum irritation, bleeding gums, bad breath, and gum disease. Interdental cleaning, therefore, is an important part of oral hygiene alongside brushing. Rather than relying on people remembering to floss separately, the device combines brushing and targeted cleaning with a jet.

Also read: Scientists Warn Common Diabetes Drug Taken By Millions Could Cause Life-Threatening 'Diabetic Attack'

Could It Actually Improve Oral Health?

Dyson says its toothbrush, named Camerajet, has been clinically shown to improve gum health in two weeks when used with its low-foaming mouth rinse compared with a manual toothbrush.

It says its brushing system can remove up to 69% more plaque than leading electric toothbrushes. However, evidence is limited, so they should not be interpreted as proof that the device is superior to every existing electric toothbrush or professional dental care.

According to the The Guardian, the British Dental Association cautioned that expensive technology is not a replacement for maintaining consistent oral hygiene.

The Future Of Brushing?

The more interesting feature of the toothbrush is that it can respond to what it sees. Most toothbrushes provide instructions about where and how long to brush.

The AI brush attempts to take that a step further by detecting areas that need attention and directing cleaning there in real time.

Additionally, unlike traditional water flossers that typically use a needle-shaped stream, this brush uses a broader, cone-shaped jet that sprays mouth rinse across a wider area between the teeth.

But even the smartest toothbrush cannot replace regular dental check-ups, professional cleaning when needed, or a consistent oral-care routine.

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Scientists Warn Common Diabetes Drug Taken By Millions Could Cause Life-Threatening 'Diabetic Attack'

Updated Sep 2, 2026 | 01:00 PM IST

SummaryA team of Swedish researchers found that a class of common diabetes drugs increased the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis in underweight patients.
Scientists Warn Common Diabetes Drug Taken By Millions Could Cause Life-Threatening 'Diabetic Attack'

Credit: iStock

A type of common diabetes drugs prescribed to millions of diabetics has hidden, life-threatening complications, especially among those with certain risk factors.

The findings are based on a new study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. It studied nearly 280,000 people with type 2 diabetes treated with SGLT2 inhibitors, a class of drugs that includes dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, canagliflozin and ertugliflozin.

A research team from Karolinska Institute found that some patients were more likely to develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) while taking these drugs.

The research comes after a study showed deaths from ketoacidosis are on the rise in the UK. Last year researchers from Imperial College London found ketoacidosis cases increased by a massive percentage of 81 per cent between 2015 and 2023.

What Is Diabetic Ketoacidosis And What Are Its Warning Signs?

Its symptoms can include excessive thirst, urinating frequently, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and blurred vision. More serious warning signs include deep or unusual breathing, fruity breath, extreme tiredness, sleepiness, or confusion.

Researchers said that developing an infection was the most common trigger of ketoacidosis. They also said that kidney problems, stroke and major surgery were also seen as triggers in patients who developed it.

Also read: Thailand’s HIV Cases Cross 550,000 In 2026; Over 25,000 Among 15–24s

What Are The Study's Findings?

SGLT2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar by helping the kidneys remove excess glucose through urine. They are widely used in type 2 diabetes treatment as their benefits extend to the heart and kidneys as well. Some studies have also linked them to weight loss.

However, these medicines can encourage the body to rely more heavily on fat for energy. This process can increase ketone production, increasing the risk of ketoacidosis in susceptible patients.

The study found that the risk was particularly high among people who had previously experienced ketoacidosis, had high blood sugar, were underweight, or showed signs of malnutrition.

Patients with a history of dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) were also at increased risk.

Also read: Once-Weekly Oral Combination HIV Pill Shows Promise As Alternative to Daily Treatment

Greater Risk At The Beginning Of The Treatment

While patients faced their greatest risk during the first few months after starting an SGLT2 inhibitor, researchers found that the risk persisted for as long as they continued taking the medicine.

This finding is contradictory to previous research that has largely focused on ketoacidosis occurring soon after treatment begins.

Peter Ueda, assistant professor at the Department of Medicine at the Karolinska Institute, said the findings should not be interpreted as a reason for patients to stop their medication.

SGLT2 inhibitors provide medical benefits for many patients,” Ueda said.“Our findings are not primarily about avoiding treatment, but about improving our ability to identify high-risk patients and use these medicines more safely,” he added.

The findings can help doctors identify people who may need closer monitoring before and during treatment, particularly if they have previous ketoacidosis, are underweight or malnourished, or develop an infection.

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Thailand’s HIV Cases Cross 550,000 In 2026; Over 25,000 Among 15–24s

Updated Sep 2, 2026 | 01:08 PM IST

Summary​More than 83% of people receiving HIV care are on continuous antiretroviral treatment in the country, and have achieved effective viral suppression, reducing the risk of serious illness and onward transmission, the media report said.
Thailand’s HIV Cases Cross 550,000 In 2026; Over 25,000 Among 15–24s

Credit: iStock

Thailand has recorded 557,993 cumulative HIV cases in 2026, according to health authorities, who said the number of new infections has fallen by 12,000 over the past three years.

Thirteen of Thailand’s 77 provinces now record more than 10,000 cases each, Bangkok Post reported.

Regions Affected

The Central region bears the highest HIV burden, with several provinces reporting more than 10,000 cumulative cases:

  • Bangkok: 88,535 cumulative HIV cases — the highest in Thailand.
  • Chonburi: 31,072 cases.
  • Chiang Mai: 23,949 cases.
  • Chiang Rai: 17,524 cases.
  • Other provinces with over 10,000 cases: Nakhon Ratchasima, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Khon Kaen, Pathum Thani, Udon Thani, Rayong, Songkhla and Ubon Ratchathani.
  • Songkhla: 10,644 cumulative cases, the highest in Health Region 12, according to the Office of Disease Prevention and Control Region 12.

Youths at High Risk

Young people aged 15 to 24 are a particular concern, accounting for more than 25,000 cumulative cases, the report said.

Officials said infections in the region were concentrated among young people and the working-age population, with unprotected sex remaining a major factor.

HIV Treatment

More than 83% of people receiving HIV care are on continuous antiretroviral treatment in the country, and have achieved effective viral suppression, reducing the risk of serious illness and onward transmission, the report said.

Why New Infections Remain a Concern

Speaking to local media, Associate Professor Dr. Opas Putcharoen, Deputy Director of the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Research Center at the Thai Red Cross, said new cases will continue to rise in the country due to increased testing, which identifies nearly 60,000 people who are unaware they are infected, combined with an estimated 8,000–9,000 new cases annually.

The most concerning and critical group is youth aged 15–24. The reason new infections have not decreased is insufficient knowledge about HIV and AIDS, Thairath Online reported.

He noted that many people underestimate their risk and therefore do not protect themselves. He stressed the urgency of campaigns encouraging people to know their HIV status so those who test positive can start treatment and reduce transmission.

Health officials said more efforts were needed to expand access to testing, encourage consistent condom use and ensure people living with HIV remain on antiretroviral treatment.

They said early diagnosis and continued treatment reduce infections and improve the long-term health of people living with HIV.

What Is HIV?

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the body's immune system, increasing the chances of developing serious infections or cancer.

The virus specifically targets CD4 cells, which are crucial for the body’s defence against infections. As HIV progresses, it destroys these cells, weakening the immune system over time. If left untreated, this continuous damage can lead to AIDS.

There is no cure for HIV, but prevention and treatment options are available.

For HIV, the primary treatment goal is to suppress the virus to undetectable levels, thus maintaining a strong immune system and preventing further transmission of the virus. People living with HIV can often live long, healthy lives if they adhere to ART.

How To Stay Safe?

According to UNAIDS, HIV risk can be effectively prevented by combining barrier methods, antiretroviral medications, and harm reduction strategies. Key prevention methods include:

  • Use Condoms
  • Using Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP): Emergency antiretroviral medication must be started within 72 hours of a possible HIV exposure to stop the infection.
  • Avoid sharing needles, syringes, or other injection and sharp equipment, and use sterile instruments for any medical or body-modification procedures.

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