The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System: Measuring health-risk behaviors

Objective: To measure priority health-risk behaviors among youth. Methods: The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) monitors priority health-risk behaviors among youth. Results: In 1999, many high school students practiced behaviors that contribute to leading health problems -- 16.4% rarely or never wore safety belts and, during the past 30 days, 17.3% carried a weapon, 34.8% smoked cigarettes, and 26.7% used marijuana. Also, 49.9% had had sexual intercourse. One quarter (26.0%) were at risk for becoming overweight or were overweight. Conclusion: YRBSS data are used to improve policies and programs to reduce priority health-risk behaviors among youth.