Teenage Health Issues and Solutions
Learn how to tackle teen obesity, stress, poor diet and much more. Essential tips for parents & educators to support adolescent health.
Written by Dr.Sonia Bhatt
Last updated on 3rd Jul, 2025
The teenage years are a crucial time in a person's life, filled with many physical, emotional, and social changes. This period can lead to various health challenges, affecting the teenager’s physical health and emotional well-being.
As teenagers navigate the ups and downs of adolescence, they may face issues like poor nutrition, unhealthy lifestyle choices, mental health struggles, and sexual health concerns. The decisions they make during these formative years can have a lasting impact on their overall health and happiness.
It is essential for parents, teachers, and healthcare providers to understand the common health issues teenagers face. By recognising these challenges, they can offer the support and guidance needed to help young people thrive. This blog will explore the different health concerns that teenagers may encounter and provide practical solutions to encourage a healthier lifestyle during this important stage of development.
Lifestyle Issues
Adolescence is when teenagers develop lifelong habits and behaviours that can influence their health and well-being for decades.
1. Sedentary Lifestyle
Many teenagers lead sedentary lives, spending hours sitting in school, doing homework, or engaging in screen-based activities like gaming, social media, or binge-watching shows. Physical inactivity is a growing concern, as lack of physical activity contributes to weight gain and obesity.
Solutions:
Aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise daily. Activities can include sports, dancing, cycling, or even walking.
Set boundaries on recreational screen time to no more than 2 hours per day.
Plan family activities like hiking, swimming, or playing sports to make exercise fun and engaging.
2. Poor Diet
Proper nutrition is critical for developing the overall health and growth of teenagers. However, most teenagers don’t eat enough nutritional foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to meet the nutrient demands of their bodies, which can result in deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and fibre. When healthy nutrition is not provided, problems in teenagers like immunity, poor concentration, delayed growth and risk of chronic conditions like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease may arise.
Solutions:
Encourage balanced meals that include a variety of colourful fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
Limit processed snacks and sugary drinks; opt for water, herbal teas, or diluted fruit juices.
Teach teens the importance of staying hydrated—aim for 6–8 glasses of water each day.
3. Excessive Screen Time
Teenagers spend a significant amount of time on smartphones, tablets, and computers for social media, gaming, and entertainment. This excessive screen time can interfere with their physical, mental, and social well-being.
Solutions:
Use apps or parental controls to monitor and limit screen time.
Promote hobbies like reading, drawing, or playing a musical instrument.
Designate specific times (e.g., during meals) as screen-free for the entire family.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Nutrition plays a critical role in promoting proper physical growth during adolescence when periods of rapid growth and sexual maturation occur. Sadly, many teens are at risk for nutritional deficiencies due to bad eating choices or higher dietary requirements.
1. Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Teenagers, particularly girls, experience iron deficiency anaemia, which is one of the most common nutritional problems. This happens when the body doesn't have enough iron, causing a person to feel tired, weak, unable to concentrate, and not have a strong immune system. For girls, the onset of menstruation may play a part in iron deficiency, as they lose iron with each menstrual cycle.
Solutions:
Include iron-rich foods in meals, such as lean red meat, fortified cereals, spinach, lentils, and beans.
Pair iron-rich foods with vitamin C sources (like citrus fruits and peppers) to help the body absorb iron better.
If dietary changes aren’t enough, consult a GP for iron supplements.
2. Vitamin D Deficiency
Teenagers spend more time indoors on screens and less time outdoors, reducing their exposure to sunlight, which is essential for vitamin D synthesis. Many teenagers do not consume enough vitamin D-rich foods like fatty fish, eggs, and fortified dairy products.
Solutions:
Encourage teenagers to spend 10–15 minutes in the sun daily.
Include fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), egg yolks, fortified milk, and cereals in their diet.
Vitamin D supplements may be necessary, especially in regions with limited sunlight.
3. Calcium Deficiency
Many teenagers avoid milk and dairy products due to lactose intolerance or preference for sugary drinks. Diets high in processed foods and low in whole foods contribute to calcium deficiency.
Solutions:
Include milk, yoghurt, cheese, leafy greens (kale, broccoli), almonds, and fortified plant-based milk.
Reduce consumption of carbonated drinks, which can interfere with calcium absorption.
Calcium supplements may be recommended if dietary intake is inadequate.
Mental Health Concerns
The importance of mental health cannot be overstated, particularly for young adults, and this is why mental health awareness in the teenage years is essential.
1. Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety are prevalent mental health conditions that can have a profound impact on a teen's overall health and ability to function in life. Common symptoms of depression include continued sadness, lack of interest in happenings, alterations in sleep or eating patterns, and struggle to concentrate alongside feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.
Solutions:
Encourage open discussions about mental health to reduce stigma and feelings of isolation.
Seek professional help from GPs or school counsellors.
Promote activities that enhance mood, such as exercise, creative hobbies, or mindfulness practices.
2. Stress and Pressure
Teenage years can be challenging, and with academic pressure, extracurricular schedules, social pressure, and family dynamics to overcome, young people are often under propulsive stress. If stress lasts too long, it can result in burnout, anxiety, and physical health issues, such as headaches, indigestion and fatigue.
Solutions:
Teach time-management skills to help balance responsibilities and leisure time.
Introduce relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises, yoga, or journaling.
Schools can prioritise mental health by offering well-being workshops or flexible deadlines during exam periods.
3. Body Image Issues
Many teenagers in a generation that promotes high beauty standards suffer from poor body image and low self-worth. All of this can contribute to unhealthy coping mechanisms — disordered eating behaviours or an obsession with exercise.
Solutions:
Promote body positivity by celebrating diverse body types and focusing on health rather than appearance.
Educate teenagers about digital literacy to help them critically assess edited or filtered social media content.
Encourage participation in activities that build confidence, such as sports, arts, or volunteering.
Sexual Health Issues
Teaching teens about sexual health is an important step in helping them understand that their sexual health is in their hands.
1. Unprotected Sex
STIs (sexually transmitted infections) are a major concern for teenagers who engage in unprotected sex or do not know how to protect themselves.
Solution: Educating teenagers on contraception, STI prevention, and the necessity of consent is crucial in equipping them with the knowledge required to make safe choices. An open dialogue with parents or other trusted adults regarding sexual health issues can also help create a supportive space where teens feel free to discuss their questions and fears.
2. Early Pregnancy
Adolescent unplanned pregnancies can have significant personal, social, and economic impacts. We should also provide teenagers with comprehensive sex education and the ability to access contraception so they have the tools to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
Solution: The risk of unplanned pregnancies can be reduced, and responsible sexual behaviour can be promoted by providing information about different contraceptive methods, their effectiveness and methods of access.
Preventative Healthcare
Preventative healthcare is essential for protecting teenagers' well-being and helping identify and address potential health issues before they escalate. Proactive measures from routine medical check-ups to vaccinations equip adolescents with the tools to maintain physical and mental health while fostering lifelong healthy habits.
Regular GP or healthcare provider visits allow for monitoring growth, development, and overall health. These check-ups often include:
Growth assessments: Tracking height, weight, and BMI to ensure healthy development.
Blood pressure and cholesterol checks: Identifying early signs of cardiovascular risks.
Anaemia screenings: Particularly for girls, to detect iron deficiency linked to menstruation.
Mental health evaluations: Discuss stress, anxiety, or mood changes to provide timely support.
Routine appointments also provide a safe space for teenagers to ask questions about puberty, sexual health, or lifestyle concerns.
Conclusion
The teenage years are a critical period for establishing health choices that will impact well-being for years. As discussed, adolescents face challenges ranging from nutritional deficiencies, lifestyle pressures, mental health issues, to sexual health concerns. Confronting these issues directly will enable young people to build resilience and healthy habits that will last with them into adulthood. Key aspects including appropriate nutrition, regular physical activity, and mental health support are interconnected foundations of adolescent health. Education is crucial in helping teens understand key topics from sexual health to identifying mental health warnings. Preventive health care, such as annual check-ups and vaccinations, is important for detecting and treating potential health problems early. As they say, “Health is wealth,” and it is essential to nurture this wealth in adolescence. Every teenager deserves the chance to lay the groundwork for a better and happier future and, when problems arise, to receive appropriate help.
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