Young people drinking and smoking less than before

BeerBeer. Photo: Norway Today Media

Youth are drinking less alcohol and smoking less than before, according to the latest figures from the University of Bergen. A general profile of healthiness, says professor.
Approximately every tenth student in tenth grade say they have been drunk, according to figures from the nationwide survey “Health habits among schoolchildren” from the University of Bergen, NRK reports.
This is almost 30 percent fewer people than in the last survey four years ago.
This year’s figures also show that less than two percent of middle school students report that they smoke.
– This is a part of a general profile of healthiness, and because they want to control their own behavior. It’s a part of a bigger whole,  Oddrun Samdal, professor of health psychology at the University of Bergen, says.
The survey also looked at  the body image pressures among the youth of today and found out that two out of  five girls aged 16 are dieting.
– If we look at height and weight, as they also have been reported, only a small proportion are overweight. The majority of the girls are dieting although it’s unnecessary,  Samdal says.
In addition, the survey reveals that young people are now struggling more with school stress and health problems, despite better eating habits and the decreased substance use.
4,500 students at 11, 13, 15 and 16 responded to the survey.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today