Brandenburg: 84% of students are satisfied with their health!

Brandenburg: 84% of students are satisfied with their health!

Today we take a look at the current health situation of children and young people in Brandenburg, which was comprehensively analyzed in a new health report. At a time of increasing challenges, the report shows encouraging aspects but also looming problems.

Adolescent health assessment

According to the report “How are the Young Generation doing?” 84 percent of students in Brandenburg rate their state of health as “fairly good” ( Medical Journal ). However, this positive self-assessment is overshadowed by growing health challenges documented between 2013 and 2023. The proportion of overweight school leavers has increased, and psychological stress has also increased significantly.

Obesity and activity

The increase in obesity among children and young people is particularly worrying. In 2023, around 30 percent of school leavers were affected, which corresponds to an increase of around 3 percent compared to 2018. At the same time, the development in physical activity shows: less than half of young people do sports regularly, which indicates an alarming stagnation ( RKI ).

Mental health in focus

The increase in psychological problems cannot be overlooked either. In 2023, 8.1 percent of children and adolescents admitted to hospital were treated for mental or behavioral disorders - an increase compared to 6.5 percent in 2013. Such data is crucial to gain a better understanding of the health status of younger generations.

Media consumption and developmental disabilities

Another aspect of the report highlights media consumption, which was significantly above daily recommendations in 2023. Almost 30 percent of school-age children reported excessive consumption. In addition, there are developmental disorders, especially speech and language disorders, which affect around two out of ten children when they start school. It becomes clear here: the living environment and especially socially disadvantaged families face enormous challenges.

Positive trends and social responsibility

Despite the challenges, there are also positive trends to report. Tobacco use among youth has fallen from 39 percent in 2005 to just 15 percent in 2021. Alcohol consumption has also seen notable declines, which gives hope. The report will serve as a basis for political decisions to improve child health in Brandenburg in the future and shows how important it is to take targeted measures to promote the health of the young generation.

In total, there will be around 420,953 children and young people under the age of 18 living in Brandenburg in 2023, which corresponds to 16.3 percent of the total population. It is time to focus on the health of future generations and develop strategies to strengthen them. The health report represents an important step in finding out where action is needed and how we can work together to create a healthy future for our children.