CDC's 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found persistent feelings of sadness dropped from 40% to 33% and suicidal ideation from 20% to 14% among high schoolers. The report's focus on diet, sleep, and exercise aligns with Health Secretary RFK Jr.'s MAHA priorities, while critics note the omission of health disparities and vaping data.
Report scope and politicization concerns
- ▪The 2025 CDC youth report omits data on vaping, smoking, and health disparities among ethnic groups
Diet, sleep, and physical activity
- ▪Daily fruit consumption rose from 33% to 39% and vegetable consumption from 58% to 63% among high schoolers
- ▪More students played on sports teams (52% to 58%) but daily physical activity remained unchanged
- ▪Only 24% of high schoolers get 8+ hours of sleep on school nights, unchanged from 2023
Debatable claims
- ▪The CDC shifted its youth survey focus to align with RFK Jr.'s MAHA political agenda
- ▪Improving teen mental health indicators show the youth mental health crisis is over
Mental health improvements
- ▪Persistent feelings of sadness among U.S. high schoolers dropped from 40% to 33% between 2023 and 2025
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