#TeenHealth

A growing trend among teenagers to pursue what they see as natural, “crunchy” wellness is raising new concerns among health professionals, who warn that teens embracing extreme eating habits in the name of health may be putting themselves at real risk. The so-called “crunchy teen” movement, which promotes natural foods, holistic remedies, and sometimes outright rejection of conventional medicine, is spreading rapidly on social media platforms and affecting adolescent behaviors worldwide, including here in Thailand.

A new wellness phenomenon, dubbed the “crunchy teen” trend, is taking hold among adolescents worldwide, with many Thai parents and educators beginning to notice the ripple effects at home. While this movement—which promotes a nature-focused, supposedly “clean” approach to eating—may sound healthy on the surface, recent expert warnings highlight an alarming rise in misinformation, extreme food beliefs, and real health risks linked to its practices. A leading family medicine specialist from Kaiser Permanente in Fairfax, Virginia, recently told US media that these trends could set off a new wave of disordered eating and anxiety among teenagers seeking dietary “perfection” rather than balance (wtop.com).

A recent nationwide US survey reveals a remarkable finding: 90% of teenagers report that exercise makes them feel happy, yet half admit their fitness levels decline during school holidays—a trend with clear relevance for Thai families as the summer heat and academic break threaten to sap teens’ motivation to move. The study, conducted by Planet Fitness and summarized in a recent Parents.com article, asked 1,000 teens aged 14-19 and their parents about physical activity and well-being, surfacing fresh insight into how exercise fuels adolescent happiness—and practical approaches families can adopt to keep teens active despite seasonal slumps.

A groundbreaking study published in Development and Psychopathology has revealed that the way parents respond to their daughters during emotionally charged arguments may help predict the likelihood of suicidal thoughts a year later. Specifically, adolescent girls whose parents failed to reciprocate eye contact and happy facial expressions during parent-child conflicts were found to be at greater risk for developing suicidal ideation. This research underscores the profound impact of subtle, moment-to-moment behaviors on mental health—a finding especially relevant for families and professionals concerned about the rising rates of suicide among adolescent girls worldwide.

In a world where sexuality is often clouded by stigma and misinformation, leading psychologists, sex education experts, and parents are urging a generational shift: mothers must have open, honest conversations with their teenage daughters about masturbation and self-exploration, not just about more mainstream issues like consent, contraception, or relationships. Recent discussions, including a widely shared article from the UK and mounting research in sexual health, highlight the crucial importance of normalizing this dialogue — for both emotional well-being and physical health — here in Thailand and globally.

Recent research and expert opinion from leading child health advocates underscore a growing crisis in sex education: parents are increasingly reluctant to discuss sexual health with their children, while the availability of formal sex education in schools continues to decline. This trend, highlighted in a recent article by a renowned sexual health expert in the Philadelphia Inquirer, has profound implications for both Western and Thai families, particularly as children turn to unregulated online sources or even pornography in place of accurate, age-appropriate information (inquirer.com). The article draws upon decades of international research supporting the benefits of parent-led sex education and offers urgently needed strategies for parents who wish to guide their children responsibly.

A new online initiative out of Syracuse, New York, is quietly transforming the way adolescents seek answers about sexual health—ushering in a digital age of confidential support. “Layla’s Got You,” a Syracuse-based website, harnesses the power of chatbot technology to help teens, particularly Black and Latina young women, find accessible, judgment-free information on sex, pregnancy, contraception, and sexually transmitted diseases. Launched in 2019 under the direction of the women’s health and empowerment director at the Allyn Family Foundation, this pioneering tool is quickly becoming a vital companion for U.S. teens hesitant to ask sensitive questions elsewhere.

For 16-year-old Molly from Weymouth, every day presents a battle—one that began four years ago when she first developed long Covid. From severe fatigue and heart palpitations to fainting spells, seizures, and even allergic reactions, Molly describes her experience as “horrible”, with basic activities now requiring a wheelchair and “two good days a week, maybe three”. With dedicated NHS long Covid support for young people in Dorset shuttered, Molly is preparing to journey 300 miles to Liverpool for private treatment, illuminating a broader crisis faced by young long Covid patients and raising urgent questions about national and global responses to this lingering pandemic (BBC).

A wave of online gambling is sweeping through high schools, with students increasingly drawn to virtual poker tables and digital casinos—a trend raising serious alarms among educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers worldwide. Recent first-hand reporting by the New York Post underscores how students, some as young as 14, are losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars in online poker games, often facilitated by easily accessible gambling apps and weak age verification systems. According to a University of Pennsylvania study cited in the report, 2.9 million adolescents in the United States are involved in gambling, with 580,000 playing online. These numbers spotlight a risky phenomenon not confined to the West but resonating globally, including here in Thailand, where digital platforms are increasingly threading into youths’ social lives and leisure activities (New York Post).

In an era where screens dominate everyday life, recent research has raised alarms about the mental health implications of prolonged screen exposure among teenagers, particularly girls. This concern is highly relevant for Thai families navigating the complexities of a digitally connected world. The study highlighted by Tanya Srivastava emphasizes a concerning link between increased screen time and the rise of depressive symptoms in young girls. As digital activities expand from schoolwork to social media and entertainment platforms, understanding these impacts is vital for the well-being of our youth.

In a chilling reminder of the potential dangers of vaping, a high school cheerleader in Nevada has been left with a life-altering diagnosis after secretly vaping for three years. Seventeen-year-old Brianne Cullen was at cheerleading practice when she suddenly found herself gasping for breath, leading to a diagnosis of bronchiolitis obliterans, a rare and chronic disease often referred to as “popcorn lung.” Her story underscores the growing concern around vaping among teenagers, pushing families and health advocates to urge greater awareness and stricter regulation.