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The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System: measuring health-risk behaviors
1Surveillance and Evaluation Research Branch, Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. LKK1@CDC.GOV
Objective:
To measure priority health-riskbehaviors among youth.
Methods:
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors priority health-risk behaviors among youth.
Results:
In 1999, many high school students practiced behaviors that contribute to leading health problems--16.4% rarely or never wore safety belts and, during the past 30 days, 17.3% carried a weapon, 34.8% smoked cigarettes, and 26.7% used marijuana. Also, 49.9% had had sexual intercourse. One quarter (26.0%) were at risk for becoming overweight or were overweight.
Conclusion:
YRBSS data are used to improve policies and programs to reduce priority health-risk behaviors among youth.