Major health & safety concerns in children and youth of modern-day life

Parents have plenty to worry about when it comes to their kids’ well-being. Let’s investigate some of the most common concerns that are rated top now a days.

• Environmental threats

Children’s lives today, and future existence, are at risk from various environmental factors such as pollution, extreme weather events, water and food insecurity, infectious diseases etc.  

Obesity and other non-communicable diseases: 

The rapid rise in childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. Children are frequently exposed to harmful and unhealthy commodities including fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages which contribute to obesity and chronic diseases, which can even harm their relationships, school achievement, and mental health. 

Pandemics outbreaks are unpredictable these days, COVID – 19 being the most recent one. We all have been affected one way or the other due to the outbreak. Several studies assessed the relationship between COVID-19 outbreak and lifestyle changes and found that NCD risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, prolonged screen time and sedentary behavior, disrupted sleep schedules and sleep quality, as well as mental disorders during COVID19 in childhood, may increase the susceptibility to NCDs in adulthood. These changes in lifestyle behaviors have short and long-term cardio-metabolic and psychological health outcomes. 

• Genetic disorders

It is a category of diseases that includes certain types of birth defects, chronic diseases, developmental problems, and sensory deficits that are inherited from one or both parents. Some of them are:  Birth defects (cataracts, missing limbs or digits, genital malformation etc.), Chronic diseases (Cancer, short stature or slow growth, sickle cell disease etc.), Developmental problems (Mental retardation, Autistic spectrum disorder, Attention deficit/ hyperactivity, speech problems etc.), Sensory deficits (Visual problems, hearing loss etc. 

• Stress

Anything can get the kids stressed, yes!, It might be regarding schoolwork, peer relationships or athletic or arts performance or serious ones like a divorce, sick relative or financial problems.  

• Exposure to digital world

Children are also exposed to the digital world a lot. Cyber bullying, Whatever or whoever may it be Online harassment, the actions can have deep effects on a child’s mental and physical health. 

• Drug and alcohol use 

 Substance use disorder is a mental health condition in which kids or teenagers use drugs or alcohol in unhealthy ways. This can include addiction, using substances in ways that interfere with normal life, and doing dangerous things because of the substance. These children are also subject to higher rates of emotional, physical, and sexual violence; housing instability; poverty; and physical health issues.

• Family/Domestic & School Violence

 This includes maltreatment, bullying, physical, sexual and emotional or psychological violence. Violence against children has lifelong impacts on the health and well-being of children and their family. Children exposed to violence and other adversities are substantially more likely to smoke, misuse alcohol and drugs, and engage in high-risk sexual behavior. They also have higher rates of anxiety, depression, other mental health problems and suicide.

Here we have mentioned only a few things to be noted about a wide variety of health and safety concerns our children are exposed to.  These problems are not easy ones to fix and will require constructive, thoughtful, and practical actions. Families, schools, neighborhoods, cities and counties, states, and country are all powerful influences on the lives and well-being of children and youth. We need to understand that every issue discussed can be prevented, diagnosed, addressed and treated with a little care and understanding that parents need to put effort in.