by Kiara Davis
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sept 2026— In a biennial report released last month the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that in 2025 the overall health of high schoolers across the United States improved considerably regarding physical activity, daily nutrition and overall mental health.
Critics of the report, led by the controversial ideas promoted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warn Americans to carefully review the stats and narratives. The key focus points dramatically shifted from previous years and excludes data on LGBTQ youth and sexual violence among teens .
In the CDC’s 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) statistics show that 58 percent of the students participants take part in sporting activities in addition to increasing their intake of fruits, water and vegetables. Compared to the 2023 survey, there is a significant increase of sexual violence against teen girls and a high share of opioid use among high schoolers.
Moreover, the percentage of students experiencing chronic moments of sadness has decreased from 53 percent to 43 percent over a period of two years. Federal Officials note that these results align with the prospects of the ‘Make America Healthy
Again’ Initiative which aims to fight against chronic childhood disease through healthier lifestyle habit. Mike Underwood, acting director for the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health states, “The intent of this report was to provide a high-level snapshot of youth health behaviors for all youth.”
However, researchers of the public health have drawn attention to the fact that the
report excludes data on LGBTQ youth and sexual violence amongst teens over the recorded years. Research scientist at Boston Children’s Hospital, Ariel Beccia asks, “Overall, we see things are getting better, but for who?” while acknowledging that the national averages did not apply to all groups.
For citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands many physical factors like the island geography, actively affect the importation of food and availability of fitness facilities. While the goal of improving the lifestyle of the people remains the priority, officials have noted that one in three students nationwide still use social media every hour.
Dr. Aaron Reliford of NYU Langone stated that getting children away from their phones can encourage them to take part in more outdoor activities that keep the moving, “And that, combined with ongoing nutrition, certainly can benefit mental health overall.”