Adolescents News and Research

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Experts call for gradual independence before children reach adolescence

As thousands of children start secondary school, experts have called for children to be given more opportunities for independence before they hit adolescence.

10 Sep 2026

Non-nutritive sweeteners may aid sugar reduction without affecting weight or health

The review, led by Eva Marija Čad of the University of Ljubljana and Wageningen University & Research, alongside Professor Graham Finlayson of the University of Leeds and colleagues from other institutions in the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain and Belgium, was developed in connection with a 2025 webinar series hosted by the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS).

9 Sep 2026

Teens can now order lunch from almost anywhere. Schools are facing a new dilemma

A national survey of 1,027 US adolescents aged 13 to 17 found that nearly one in four reported using mobile food delivery services during school hours, while almost half used them after school. Fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages were among the most commonly ordered items through delivery apps overall, while students also raised concerns about cost, inequality, safety, and disruption at school.

8 Sep 2026

Vaping rises among youth despite declining smoking rates

Three large studies together show that, although the number of people who smoke is declining, people are taking up smoking at a younger age and vaping has increased, particularly among children and younger people.

7 Sep 2026

Teenagers from disadvantaged families show greater eating disorder risk

Teenagers who come from households with a lower income and lower level of education are more likely to have an eating disorder, finds a new study co-led by UCL researchers.

7 Sep 2026

Some popular drinks were linked to depression and anxiety. Coffee was different

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6 Sep 2026

Preschool children show contrasting effects after brief gameplay

A study of preschool children found that brief digital or traditional gameplay improved performance on tasks requiring quick responses, but reduced performance on tasks demanding greater concentration and self-control.

4 Sep 2026

Childhood obesity prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs surge in the U.S.

Although the number of US children under age 12 with obesity being prescribed the weight loss drugs Saxenda, Wegovy, and Zepbound remains low, the number is 310 times higher in June 2026 than it was in 2019, when the drugs were initially prescribed, a new study shows.

4 Sep 2026

School-based behavioral therapy cuts gaming disorder risk among vulnerable adolescents

School-based prevention programs are designed to help protect adolescents from gaming disorder and problematic online habits.

4 Sep 2026

Flavorings, colors and sweeteners emerge as UPF markers linked to depression risk

A prospective UK Biobank study of 171,818 adults found that greater estimated exposure to foods containing flavorings, coloring agents, and sweeteners was dose-dependently associated with a higher risk of incident depression over 10.7 years. The findings suggest that specific markers, rather than ultra-processed foods uniformly, may help explain associations between UPF consumption and depression risk.

1 Sep 2026

GLP-1 drugs have benefits beyond weight loss. Could microdoses preserve them?

A narrative review suggests GLP-1-based therapies deliver metabolic, cardiovascular, renal, and other systemic benefits, raising interest in whether lower fractional doses could improve tolerability and treatment continuity. However, direct evidence for GLP-1 microdosing remains extremely limited, and researchers say prospective studies are needed to determine whether lower doses preserve long-term benefits.

1 Sep 2026

Social media messages could empower parents to prevent teen vaping

Parents are an important line of defense against teen vaping, yet many lack the knowledge and tools needed to recognize vaping products, understand their risks and prevent their children from using them.

31 Aug 2026

Sexual health education empowers young people to prevent infections

For many adolescents and young adults, life revolves around new experiences, greater independence, and new relationships.

30 Aug 2026

Personalized nutrition promotes weight loss without counting calories

The great majority of people taking part in a study lost weight by following personalised nutritional insights, rather than going on a calorie counting or restrictive diet, reveal findings from a new study.

27 Aug 2026

Internalized racial oppression may undermine culturally affirming parenting

Black parents who experienced higher levels of appropriated racial oppression - defined as shaping one's behavior and self-concept around dominant cultural norms of whiteness - were less likely to transmit positive, culturally protective messages that affirmed racial pride and self-worth to their adolescent children, a recent study found.

25 Aug 2026

New UCSF center aims to improve eating disorder care

People with eating disorders wait an average of more than two-and-a-half years between the onset of symptoms and the start of treatment.

25 Aug 2026

Survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of youth mental health and drug use in Ontario

Findings from the 2025 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) released today by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) suggest that Ontario middle and high school students have rebounded from the heightened mental health challenges seen during and immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic.

24 Aug 2026

Type 2 diabetes incidence increases 10-fold among American youth

Type 2 diabetes has traditionally been a disease that has developed mostly in middle-aged and older adults.

24 Aug 2026

Researchers followed children for a decade to see whether screen time really mattered

A large Scottish birth cohort found that screen use showed limited and inconsistent associations with children’s emotional, behavioral, and social development from ages 5 to 15. Very high gaming in adolescence stood out, while several other associations weakened after adjustment, sensitivity analyses, or correction for multiple testing.

24 Aug 2026

Study reveals free-to-play video games mimic gambling spending patterns

Digital media, including videogames, are a central part of leisure activities for many adolescents and adults.

21 Aug 2026

Adolescents News and Research

Experts call for gradual independence before children reach adolescence

Non-nutritive sweeteners may aid sugar reduction without affecting weight or health

Teens can now order lunch from almost anywhere. Schools are facing a new dilemma

Vaping rises among youth despite declining smoking rates

Teenagers from disadvantaged families show greater eating disorder risk

Some popular drinks were linked to depression and anxiety. Coffee was different

Preschool children show contrasting effects after brief gameplay

Childhood obesity prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs surge in the U.S.

School-based behavioral therapy cuts gaming disorder risk among vulnerable adolescents

Flavorings, colors and sweeteners emerge as UPF markers linked to depression risk

GLP-1 drugs have benefits beyond weight loss. Could microdoses preserve them?

Social media messages could empower parents to prevent teen vaping

Sexual health education empowers young people to prevent infections

Personalized nutrition promotes weight loss without counting calories

Internalized racial oppression may undermine culturally affirming parenting

New UCSF center aims to improve eating disorder care

Survey provides a comprehensive snapshot of youth mental health and drug use in Ontario

Type 2 diabetes incidence increases 10-fold among American youth

Researchers followed children for a decade to see whether screen time really mattered

Study reveals free-to-play video games mimic gambling spending patterns

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