CDC releases narrowed 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey report, which presents a narrower focus on adolescent health compared to previous iterations. While the biennial survey has historically tracked a wide range of issues including substance use, sexual behavior, and violence, the latest national report concentrates on five specific areas: diet, physical activity, sleep, digital behavior, and mental health and suicide risk.

Although the underlying survey data on the CDC website still includes metrics on alcohol, drug use, and sexual activity, these are no longer featured as key findings in the national report. The 2025 publication is also significantly shorter, totaling 36 pages compared to the 88 pages in the 2023 report.

This shift in reporting aligns with the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda championed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration. The MAHA initiative and its presidential commission focus on addressing the root causes of childhood chronic disease by promoting nutrition and physical activity.