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.

In the recent past, there has been an increase in the prevalence of hypertension among the young urban population of Delhi, especially after the pandemic. Medical practitioners and public health specialists note that people in their late twenties and thirties are now experiencing higher levels of high blood pressure, which used to affect mostly middle-aged and older people. This has become a silent cardiovascular disease problem among young professionals due to the fast-paced lifestyle and post-pandemic stress.

In an interaction with Health and Me, Dr Tushar Tayal, Associate Director, Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, spoke about the rising incidence of high BP cases in 30-something Delhi locals.

Lifestyle Changes Due to the Pandemic Situation

The coronavirus pandemic brought about significant changes in people’s lifestyles. Working from home became the norm for most companies, leading to less physical exercise, more screen time, and the blurring of lines between work and private life. Young adults living in Delhi experienced disrupted sleeping schedules, spent less time outside, and consumed processed foods delivered to them regularly. These unhealthy practices have persisted even after offices reopened.

Stress and Uncertainty Persist

Moreover, life after the pandemic has also brought emotional and financial stress for many city-based working individuals. Fears surrounding job stability, the increasing cost of living, loneliness, and burnout have had an adverse effect on individuals’ mental well-being. Stress leads to the activation of the body’s “fight or flight” response, causing increased heart rates and the tightening of blood vessels. Eventually, constant physiological stress results in long-term high blood pressure. Young adults might not be aware of how stress impacts their bodies physically until something goes wrong.

Urban Life in Delhi Puts People at Risk

Furthermore, other aspects of urban life in Delhi also increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Factors such as long commutes, traffic pollution, poor air quality, lack of proper sleep, and the consumption of convenience foods have contributed to poor heart health among people. The reliance of most professionals on caffeine, processed food, and unhealthy eating habits has made people more prone to high blood pressure problems.

How Hypertension in the 30s is Hazardous

The early onset of high blood pressure predisposes an individual to various cardiovascular diseases in the future, including stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, and other metabolic problems. In most cases, high blood pressure remains unnoticed for quite a long time due to the absence of any obvious signs and symptoms. Therefore, some patients perceive headaches, fatigue, anxiety, or sleeplessness as mere side effects of stress. Nevertheless, hypertension in one’s thirties poses a threat of vascular damage in the coming decade.

Hypertension in Young Urban Adults

It seems curious that urban youth demonstrate sufficient physical activity on their Instagram accounts while being incapable of sustaining cardiovascular balance. The issue stems from the fact that regular exercise performed in the gym or during weekends cannot totally compensate for the impact of constant psychological stress, an unhealthy dietary regime, and stressful work. Specialists indicate that blood pressure is regulated not just by one’s body mass index but also by neurological factors and lifestyle stability.

Awareness Regarding Prevention from Hypertension

According to experts, individuals aged over 25 years need to monitor their blood pressure levels regularly, especially when engaged in stressful jobs. Other preventive measures, such as walking daily, reducing sodium consumption, practicing yoga and meditation, getting adequate sleep, and managing stress, will greatly contribute towards mitigating risks. Initiatives by corporate organisations, as well as government campaigns, might be instrumental in raising awareness regarding the prevention of hypertension among the youth in Delhi.

The post-pandemic period has clearly shown that stress, lack of physical activity, and the challenges of living in cities have a great bearing on cardiovascular disorders.

Singapore is seeing a significant rise in COVID-19 cases, driven by the NB.1.8.1 variant from the Omicron family, nicknamed “Nimbus”.

According to a statement from the Communicable Diseases Agency, the number of COVID cases in Singapore rose to 12,700 in the week of May 10 to May 16, compared with 8,000 in the previous week.

The country is also seeing a rise in the number of daily COVID hospitalizations — from 56 to 73 during the same period, with one case in the intensive care unit daily on average, the CDA said.

NB.1.8.1 Variant Driving COVID Surge: Should People Be Worried?

The NB.1.8.1 variant is currently the dominant strain circulating in Singapore and accounts for more than half of locally sequenced cases.

The CDA noted that people at extremes of age, such as those aged 60 years and above, including those staying in aged care facilities, and medically vulnerable people aged six months and above, are at increased risk of severe COVID infection and should stay updated with vaccinations.

Calling the increase a “periodic wave” of COVID that “is expected throughout the year”, the agency said it is monitoring the spike.

“There is no indication that the variants circulating locally are more transmissible or cause more severe disease compared with previously circulating variants,” it added.

The CDA noted that the surge in cases may be due to waning population immunity, and stated that the currently available vaccine in the country continues to be effective for protection against this variant..

Also read: Child Mortality Rates In US Saw A Massive 6.6% Rise In Just 3 Years, Study Finds

All About The NB.1.8.1 Variant

NB.1.8.1 was first detected in January 2025. It is a “recombinant” variant, meaning it formed when two or more older variants mixed their genetic material.

On May 23, 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified NB.1.8.1 as a “Variant Under Monitoring” (VUM). Scientists have identified changes in the virus that could affect how it spreads or infects people, although evidence is still evolving.

Previous laboratory studies also suggest the variant binds more tightly to human cells, indicating it may infect people more effectively than earlier variants.

Symptoms Linked To NB.1.8.1

People infected with NB.1.8.1 commonly report:

• Sore throat
• Cough
• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Stuffy or runny nose

Some patients also experience:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Fatigue
• Mild cough
• Nasal congestion

One unusual symptom linked to the variant is a severe “razor blade” sore throat, where people report sharp pain while swallowing food or beverages.

Read More: Europe Sees Record Surge In Gonorrhea, Syphilis Cases In Over A Decade: ECDC

How To Protect Yourself From Severe COVID-19

Vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness, especially for:

• Older adults
• Immunocompromised individuals
• People with underlying medical conditions
• Medically vulnerable individuals aged six months and above

Other Safety Measures

Authorities advised the public to continue basic preventive practices such as:

• Washing hands regularly
• Covering the nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing
• Wearing masks when symptomatic
• Avoiding unnecessary social interactions when unwell.

During the hot days of the year, amid a severe heatwave, it is only natural to feel irritable and anxious. But according to psychologists, some simple household chores will not just give you a sense of calm but will also work like meditation. Experts have found that manual chores like clearing away clutter, sweeping, and mopping prevent the mind from wandering while giving a concrete sense of accomplishment. Psychologists say that the process of cleaning is meditative and calming.

Experts and Zen monks often say that before enlightenment, one must carry water and chop wood. And even after enlightenment, the same process must be repeated. Repetitive activities like these can regulate the nervous system, as these acts are structured, predictable, and give a sense of completion at the end.

How does mopping help?

Zen monks and psychologists recommend mopping the floor, as this activity gives a sense of grounding and control. Additionally, one can immediately see the results of one's work, which is more satisfying than cognitive and emotional tasks that have slow results. "Unsui" monks spend most of their time tidying and cleaning. In A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind, a monk wrote that they sweep dust to remove worldly desires and scrub dirt to free themselves from attachment. This time spent cleaning everything carefully, they say, is extremely fulfilling.

The mental health benefits of cleaning

Psychologists say that people who dread cleaning or find it daunting can engage in the activity to improve focus rather than stress about a to-do list. People who see cleaning as drudgery often feel that the shift is less about forcing oneself to enjoy it than about changing the way one engages with the activity. But the key here is not to rush through the process — experts say that it is imperative to pay attention to the rhythm of the physical movement or to things like water temperature.

When slowed down, it helps one focus on the sensory aspects, and it can start to function like a mindfulness exercise. Cleaning is an opportunity to free the mind and care for oneself and the world. For monks, cleaning is not just about fixing a room; it is a way to expand oneself and nurture one's relationship with the world. Therefore, instead of looking for a perfect result, it is important to embrace incompletion without anxiety.

When one feels overwhelmed, it is not about the task but about what the task represents. This could be self-judgement, time pressure, or anxiety, for instance. Breaking a task down into small and defined actions can reduce barriers. Therefore, instead of getting engrossed in the activity, one must try to break the task down into smaller and defined actions that reduce barriers. Start by choosing one room or surface to clean. Start with baby steps and then ease into the process. This awareness will give you a sense of peace similar to what one finds in temples.