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The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System: Measuring Health-risk Behaviors
Objective:
To measure priority health-risk behaviors 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.
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