Seven health stats about Denver teenagers
They’re less likely to be bullied but more likely to go hungry.
| Category | Percentage | Change from 2013 healthy kids survey | Compared to state average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overweight or Obese | 27% | ⬆2% | 7%⬆ |
| Went hungry from lack of food (past 30 days) | 17% | – | 3%⬆ |
| Bullied at school (past 12 months) | 12% | ⬇4% | 8%⬇ |
| Used tobacco (past 30 days) | 22% | – | 9%⬇ |
| Drank alcohol (past 30 days) | 28% | ⬇9% | 2%⬇ |
| Used marijuana (past 30 days) | 26% | ⬇1% | 5%⬆ |
| Had sexual intercourse (past three months) | 25% | ⬇2% | = |
Teenagers in Denver are less likely to be bullied and less likely to smoke (tobacco) or drink than their peers around the state. They’re also more likely both to go hungry and to be overweight.
The 2015 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey reveals marijuana use is stagnant among high schoolers in Denver and throughout Colorado despite the introduction of recreational marijuana stores in 2014. Obesity, on the other hand, inched up since the 2013 survey.
In 2015, the state partnered with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and an advisory committee to ask roughly 17,000 randomly selected students a wide range of questions on their health behaviors.
Students from 157 randomly selected middle and high schools in Colorado participated on a voluntary basis.
The healthy kids survey shows parents and guardians are the most important influence on a young person’s health and well-being, according to a news release from the state. “If a parent feels it’s wrong to use marijuana, their children are four times less likely to use marijuana. If a parent feels it’s wrong to smoke cigarettes, their children are six times less likely to smoke cigarettes. And if a parent feels it’s wrong to drink alcohol regularly, their children are three times less likely to binge drink.”
The complete 2015 survey results can be found here.
Business & data reporter Adrian D. Garcia can be reached via email at agarcia@denverite.com or twitter.com/adriandgarcia.