Assessing Health Risk
Behaviors Among Young People:
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System

At A Glance
2004

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"The information collected through the Youth Risk Behavior Survey is vitally important to school policy makers, administrators, and educators as they plan and implement coordinated school health policies and programs designed to promote healthy behaviors among the nation’s youth."

Anne L. Bryant
Executive Director, National School Boards Association

Assessing Health Risk Behaviors Among Young People

Risk Behaviors Are Linked to the Leading Causes of Death

Today, the health of young people — and the adults they will become — is critically linked to the health related behaviors they choose to adopt. A limited number of behaviors contribute markedly to today’s major killers. These behaviors, often established during youth, include

• Tobacco use.
• Unhealthy dietary behaviors.
• Inadequate physical activity.
• Alcohol and other drug use.
• Sexual behaviors that may result in HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancies.
• Behaviors that may result in violence and unintentional injuries (for example, injuries from motor vehicle crashes).

Among both children and adults, the leading causes of death are closely linked to these behaviors. Among adults, chronic diseases — such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes — are the nation’s leading killers. Practicing healthy behaviors, such as eating low-fat, high-fruit-and-vegetable diets, getting regular physical activity, and refraining from tobacco use, would prevent many premature deaths. Because health-related behaviors are usually established in childhood, positive choices need to be promoted before unhealthy behaviors are initiated or become ingrained.

Percentage of High School Students Who Were Overweight or at Risk of Becoming Overweight

*Students who were greater than or equal to the 85th percentile but less than the 95th percentile for body mass index, by age and sex.
^†Students who were greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for body mass index, by age and sex.
^‡Students who were greater than or equal to the 85th percentile for body mass index, by age and sex.
Source: CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2001.

[A text version of this chart is also available.]

 
Using YRBSS Data

State and local health and education officials use YRBSS data in a variety of ways: 

• To implement or modify programs to address the behaviors of young people in a specific area. 

  In New York City, YRBSS data on unintentional injuries led to the development of a program called “Safety Makes Sense.” 

• To set program goals and objectives and to monitor the progress toward those goals.

  In Wyoming, YRBSS data helped in assessing the implementation of health education standards. 

• To create awareness of the extent of risk behaviors among young people. 

  In Wisconsin, YRBSS data were published in the state’s medical journal to help educate new physicians about adolescent health issues.

CDC’s Leadership Role

To ensure the availability of accurate and current information on health risk behaviors among young people, CDC provides funding and technical support to states and major cities to conduct a Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). In addition, CDC supports coordinated school health programs in a number of states to provide young people with the information and skills they need to avoid unhealthy behaviors. 

Assisting With State and Local Surveys 

With technical assistance from CDC, state and local departments of education and health conduct a YRBS every 2 years. Sites can add or delete questions in the core questionnaire to better meet the interests and needs of the state or major city. School-based surveys were last conducted and analyzed in 2001 among students in grades 9–12 in 38 states and 19 major cities. The average sample size of the surveys was 1,819 students. 

CDC’s technical assistance includes 

• Training for state and local coordinators. 
• Sample selection and data processing.
• Help with applying survey results to improve school health programs and policies. 

Conducting National Surveys 

In addition to assisting states, CDC conducts a national survey every 2 years to produce data representative of students in grades 9–12 in public and private schools in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The 2001 survey had more than 13,000 respondents. 

To provide critical information on health risk behaviors among young people in high-risk situations and those in colleges, CDC conducted additional national surveys: 

• The National Alternative High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted in 1998 among a representative sample of almost 9,000 students in alternative schools. 
• The National College Health Risk Behavior Survey, conducted in 1995 among a representative sample of about 5,000 undergraduate students. CDC hopes to conduct another survey in 2005.

Results From National Surveys, 1991–2001

Percentage of High School Students
Who Did Not Attend Physical Education
Classes Daily

Percentage of High School Students
Who Smoked a Cigarette in the Past Month

Percentage of High School Students
Who Carried a Weapon in the Past Month

Source: CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 1991–2001.

YRBSS Participants and Uses

Purposes of the YRBSS

• Determine the prevalence of health risk behaviors. 
• Assess whether health risk behaviors increase, decrease, or remain the same over time. 
• Examine the co-occurrence of health risk behaviors among young people. 
• Provide comparable national, state, and local data. 
• Monitor progress toward achieving the Healthy People 2010 objectives, which are based on the 10 leading health indicators.

Access YRBSS Data Using Youth 2001 Online 

Youth 2001 Online is a useful new tool now available at the YRBSS Web site (www.cdc.gov/yrbss). Youth 2001 Online contains results for national, state, territorial, and local surveys conducted from 1991 through 2001. Youth 2001 Online allows people to 

• Create tables and graphs showing survey results.
• See results from national, state, local, and territorial surveys.
• Explore results by race/ethnicity, sex, or school grade.
• Compare survey results for two locations or survey years.
• Create reports that show which behaviors have changed significantly over time. 

Future Directions 

CDC will continue to help states and cities gather the data they need to monitor young people’s health-related behaviors and strengthen programs to promote lifelong healthy choices among youth. In addition, CDC will find new ways to help education and health professionals analyze and use YRBSS data and maximize the data’s effectiveness in improving school health policies and programs.

  
For more information or additional copies of this document, please contact the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion
Mail Stop K–32
4770 Buford Highway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341-3717
(888) 231-6405

ccdinfo@cdc.gov
http://www.cdc.gov/YRBSS/

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This page last reviewed March 29, 2004

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion