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.

On August 5, 2026, New York's Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) Act comes into effect which will allow eligible patients with a terminal illness to choose to peacefully end their lives. The end-of-life healthcare will enable patients to have access to end-of-life medications that they could self-administer.

The law marks a significant step in end-of-life healthcare, placing New York among the growing number of U.S. states offering medically assisted dying under strict legal safeguards.

About The Law

The law is intended for adults who are

• New York residents
• 18 years and older
• Diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less
• Mentally capable of making healthcare decisions
• Physically able to self-administer the medication
• Receive approval from two physicians
• Undergo a mandatory mental health evaluation by a psychiatrist

The end-of-life right is not available for people with chronic illnesses alone, advanced dementia, or individuals who cannot make informed medical decisions.

Health experts emphasize that medical aid in dying is not the same as euthanasia. Under New York's law, the patient, not the physician, must voluntarily take the prescribed medication.

Doctors evaluate eligibility, discuss alternative care options such as hospice and palliative care, and ensure that the request is informed and free from coercion before a prescription can be issued. Multiple medical assessments are required, making the process regulated and full-proof.

Also read: Assisted Dying Bill Passed In UK: What It Means And How It Changes For End-of-Life Care Forever?

Reactions

Supporters say the legislation gives terminally ill patients greater autonomy during the final stages of life. Many advocacy groups argue that simply having the option can provide psychological comfort, even for patients who ultimately never take the medication.

Experiences from states where similar laws have existed for years suggest that a significant number of eligible patients obtain the prescription but do not use it.

They instead find reassurance in knowing that they have a choice if suffering becomes unbearable.

At the same time, the law continues to spark ethical and legal debate. Disability rights advocates and some religious organizations have voiced concerns about potential risks to vulnerable populations and the broader implications for end-of-life care.

A group of Catholic healthcare providers has already challenged the law in federal court, arguing that certain provisions requiring patient transfers conflict with their religious beliefs.

For healthcare professionals, the implementation of the MAID Act also means preparing new medical protocols, reporting requirements, and giving appropriate training to staff.

The New York State Department of Health has introduced regulations outlining eligibility criteria, documentation, and safeguards to ensure the law is implemented responsibly while protecting both patients and healthcare providers.

Also read: What Are The Dutch Guidelines Of Active Euthanasia And The Countries That Allow It

Canada Banned Assisted Dying For Mental Illness Alone

Recently, a parliamentary committee in Canada recommended that the country's assisted dying laws must continue to exclude people whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness.

When MAID was introduced in 2016 in Canada, it was available only to adults who were terminally ill. The eligibility criteria were strict.

Individuals had to be suffering from a "serious and incurable illness", be in an "advanced state of irreversible decline", experience "intolerable suffering", and have a natural death that was "reasonably foreseeable".

This legal pathway became primarily served people with terminal cancer or other severe illnesses who wanted greater control over the dying process.

However, many Canadians living with severe non-terminal conditions argued that they were excluded from the law. These included people with degenerative diseases, chronic pain, or spinal injuries who experienced significant suffering but were not nearing death. Many requested MAID but were routinely denied.

Former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha has said he now believes the COVID-19 pandemic was "more likely" caused by an accidental lab leak than by natural transmission.

His comments come after last week's congressional hearing involving former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, during which the infectious disease expert invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination more than 100 times as Republicans questioned his handling of the pandemic. Fauci led the scientific and medical response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

"My view on COVID origins isn't new — I've held it since my time at the White House," Jha, who also served as an adviser to former President Joe Biden, wrote on social media platform X.

"Here's the truth: no one in America knows for sure. Anyone telling you they do is selling you something. Based on strong circumstantial evidence I've seen, I think a lab leak is much more likely," he wrote while sharing a clip of his CNN interview.

Jha stressed that he was not claiming certainty, adding that he believes the pandemic was "not engineered. Not deliberate. Accidental."

"No one in the United States knows for sure. The only people who know for sure are officials in China, and we still need transparency and accountability on that. My best assessment is that it probably was a lab leak."

Debate Over COVID-19 Origins Continues

The origin of COVID-19 has remained one of the most debated questions since the pandemic began in 2020. Scientists and public health experts have debated whether the virus emerged through natural transmission—possibly linked to a wildlife market in Wuhan—or from an accidental laboratory leak.

Recently released personal journals of Dr. Fauci have renewed discussion over the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and the US pandemic response.

The 1,141-page collection, released by Senator Rand Paul ahead of Fauci's scheduled Senate testimony, covers the period from December 2019 to December 2022.

The journals show Fauci continued receiving updates about the virus's origin while publicly emphasizing the available scientific evidence supporting natural emergence.

Following a conference call with leading virologists, Fauci noted that several experts discussed whether parts of the virus's genome could have evolved naturally. He listed the participants and summarized the debate over the possibility of a laboratory origin.

However, experts say the journals are Fauci's personal contemporaneous notes and do not conclusively establish the origin of COVID-19.

Also read: COVID-19 In India: Omicron RF.5 Primarily Affects Throat, Unlikely To Trigger Pneumonia In Healthy People, Say Experts

Key Points From Fauci's Journals

• Fauci recorded discussions in late January 2020 in which several scientists questioned whether SARS-CoV-2 could have originated from a laboratory because of certain genetic features.
• The journals show these possibilities were discussed internally before many scientists later concluded that natural spillover was the more likely explanation.
• The entries do not provide proof that the virus leaked from a laboratory.

"The first infection was in early December and was not connected to the market... Now we know the market was not the source; it was the amplifier. Having said that, somewhere the virus jumped from animals to humans," Fauci wrote.

Read More: US Measles Cases Reach 2,371; RFK Jr Takes U-Turn, Urges Families to Vaccinate Kids

Tulsi Gabbard's Declassified Documents

In June, Tulsi Gabbard, on her final day as US Director of National Intelligence, released previously undisclosed communications and documents alleging that Fauci funded research at China's Wuhan Institute of Virology that contributed to the pandemic.

About 35 people have tested positive for Chandipura virus, while 22 have lost their lives due to the insect-borne virus, said Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya.

Speaking to the media, Pansheriya added that seven others are currently undergoing treatment in ICUs with ventilator and oxygen support under the supervision of super-specialist doctors.

The state health department has intensified surveillance and testing efforts across affected areas and is working to identify and isolate suspected cases.

What Is Chandipura Virus?

Chandipura virus (CHPV) is an insect-borne virus belonging to the Rhabdoviridae family and the Vesiculovirus genus. It was first identified in 1965 in Chandipura village in Maharashtra.

The virus is transmitted primarily through phlebotomine sandflies, although mosquitoes and ticks may also play a role in transmission.

Also read: 6-in-1 Vaccine Could Make India's Childhood Immunization Program More Efficient, Cut Costs: Health Ministry Study

Most cases have been reported from central and western India, particularly during the monsoon and post-monsoon months when sandfly populations increase.

While some infections remain mild, the virus can rapidly invade the brain, causing acute encephalitis (brain inflammation), seizures, coma, and even death, especially in children.

"In some children, Chandipura virus can cause severe brain inflammation and become life-threatening within a short period," said Dr. Kanchankumar Bhagyawant, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune.

Symptoms Of Chandipura Virus Infection

Symptoms usually begin suddenly and may initially resemble other viral illnesses. The expert urged to watch out for:

• Sudden high fever
• Severe headache
• Vomiting
• Excessive sleepiness or reduced activity
• Irritability or behavioural changes
• Convulsions or seizures
• Loss of consciousness in severe cases.

"Parents should never ignore a fever lasting more than three days if it is accompanied by repeated vomiting, seizures, confusion, or excessive sleepiness. Seeking immediate medical care can be lifesaving," Dr. Bhagyawant said.

Why Are Children More At Risk?

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According to Dr. Bhagyawant, children below 15 years, especially those living in rural and semi-rural areas, are the most vulnerable to Chandipura virus infection. Although adults can be infected, severe disease is far less common.

Children are at greater risk because of several factors:

• Immature immune system: Young children have fewer antibodies and are less able to fight new viral infections.
• Higher exposure: Outdoor play increases contact with sandflies, particularly during the monsoon.
• Limited prior immunity: Most children have not been previously exposed to the virus.
• Rapid disease progression: The virus can multiply quickly, overwhelming a child's immune system.
• Developing brain: Children's brains are more vulnerable to encephalitis and neurological damage.
• Delayed diagnosis: Early symptoms resemble common viral infections, delaying treatment.
• Limited healthcare access: Rural areas may have fewer diagnostic and treatment facilities.
• Poor vector control: Inadequate measures to control sandflies increase the risk of transmission.

How Can Chandipura Virus Infection Be Prevented?

There is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for Chandipura virus. Prevention focuses on avoiding insect bites and reducing exposure to sandflies.

Dr. Bhagyawant recommended:

• Use mosquito or sandfly nets, especially for children at night.
• Apply age-appropriate insect repellents.
• Dress children in full-sleeved clothing and long pants.
• Keep homes and surroundings clean.
• Eliminate stagnant water and improve sanitation around homes and animal shelters.
• Install window screens where possible.
• Seek immediate medical attention if a child develops a high fever along with vomiting, seizures or altered consciousness.