CDC releases new youth behavior report focusing on nutrition and mental health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey report, which adopts a narrower focus than previous iterations. The latest publication concentrates on five specific areas: diet, physical activity, sleep, digital behavior, and mental health and suicide risk. Notably, the national report omits findings on substance use, sexual behavior, and violence, although this data remains available on the CDC website. This shift in reporting aligns with the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda promoted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration, which prioritizes nutrition and physical activity to prevent childhood chronic disease.

In a regional context, the Howard County Health Department’s 2024-2025 survey results show varying trends in youth health. The data indicates significant declines in the use of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and electronic smoking devices among middle and high school students. Additionally, there has been a major decrease in high school suicide attempts in recent years. However, mental health indicators remain complex, with reports of sadness and hopelessness increasing in certain demographic groups even as other indicators show improvement.