CDC Reports Improvements in Youth Mental Health and Diet but Mixed Activity Trends

Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data from 2023 to 2025 show improvements in several measures of adolescent mental health and nutrition, alongside mixed trends in physical activity and digital behaviors, according to a September 21, 2026, news release from the CDC.

The findings come from a new CDC report, Youth Health in Focus, described by the agency as a snapshot of the health and well-being of high school students. For more than 35 years, the YRBS has provided nationally representative data that help schools, families, communities, and public health leaders identify emerging challenges, monitor long-term trends, and guide evidence-based action, according to CDC.

Reported improvements in mental health indicators included persistent sadness or hopelessness, from 40% to 33% of students; poor mental health, from 29% to 23%; and seriously considering suicide, from 20% to 14%. Dietary measures also improved: daily fruit consumption rose from 33% to 39%, daily vegetable consumption from 58% to 63%, and consumption of plain water at least three times daily from 54% to 58%.

Physical activity trends were mixed: the share of students who played on a sports team rose from 52% to 58%, but daily physical activity, muscle-strengthening activity, and meeting recommended activity guidelines remained unchanged, and fewer students attended physical education daily from 2023 to 2025, according to CDC. About 24% of students got at least 8 hours of sleep, similar to 23% in 2023, and 36% reported social media use every hour or more, similar to 37% in 2023. Texting or emailing while driving among student drivers was little changed, at 46% in 2025 versus 42% in 2023.

"These are meaningful improvements, and they show that progress is possible when schools, families, and communities work together to support young people," said Jennifer Shuford, MD, MPH, CDC's deputy director and chief medical officer.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC data show encouraging progress in youth health. News release. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; September 21, 2026. Accessed September 22, 2026.