Question: What is Youth At-Risk Behavior?
Answer: Simply stated it is any behavior that puts the youth at risk for negative consequences, like future poor health, injury or death. The CDC tracks certain youth at-risk behaviors that they have deemed important and observable in their Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which gives a report every year. They assess six categories of priority health risk behaviors:
- behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence;
- tobacco use;
- alcohol and other drug use;
- sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and STDs, including HIV infection;
- unhealthy dietary behaviors;
- and physical inactivity—plus overweight and asthma.
