Teen Health

Summary

As a teenager, you go through many changes. Your body is on its way to becoming its adult size. You may notice that you can’t fit into your old shoes or that your jeans are now 3 inches too short. Along with these changes, you are probably becoming more independent and making more of your own choices. Some of the biggest choices you face are about your health.

Healthy habits, including eating a healthy diet and being physically active, can help you feel good, look good, and do your best in school, work, or sports. They might also prevent diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke, and some cancers when you are older.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Treatments and Therapies

• 7 Things to Know about Mind and Body Practices for Children and Teens National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Talking to Your Doctor (For Teens) Nemours Foundation
• Understanding Medications and What They Do Nemours Foundation

Statistics and Research

• Adolescent and Young Adult Health World Health Organization
• America’s Children in Brief: Key National Indicators of Well-Being Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics
• FastStats: Adolescent Health National Center for Health Statistics
• Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

• Ages and Stages: Teen American Academy of Pediatrics
• Medical Care and Your 13- to 18-Year-Old Nemours Foundation
• TeensHealth Nemours Foundation
• TeensHealth: Q&A Nemours Foundation

Related Issues

• Are Steroids Worth the Risk? Nemours Foundation
• Body Image and Self-Esteem (For Teens) Nemours Foundation
• Choosing a Primary Health Care Provider (PCP): General Information for Young Women Boston Children’s Hospital
• Compulsive Exercise Nemours Foundation
• Gyn Checkups (For Teens) Nemours Foundation
• Hygiene Basics Nemours Foundation
• Media and Body Image American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Teens and Stress: Who Has Time for It? American Academy of Family Physicians
• Testicular Exams Nemours Foundation
• What’s the Right Weight for My Height? (For Teens) Nemours Foundation
• Your Feelings Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Your First Pelvic Exam Boston Children’s Hospital

Health Check Tools

• BMI (Body Mass Index) Calculator for Child and Teen Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• How’s Your Self-Esteem? (Quiz) Nemours Foundation

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Adolescent Health National Institutes of Health

Find an Expert

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Find a Pediatrician or Pediatric Specialist American Academy of Pediatrics
• KidsHealth Nemours Foundation

Specifics

• Female Athlete Triad Nemours Foundation
• How Much Sleep Do I Need? (For Teens) Nemours Foundation
• Nutrition Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Smoking and Youth: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Take Charge of Your Health: A Guide for Teenagers National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Tanning Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Teen Sexual Health: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Underage Drinking: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Journal Articles

• Teen Health

Patient Handouts

• Teenagers and sleep Medical Encyclopedia

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Vaccinations for Preteens and Teens, Age 11-19 Years Immunization Action Coalition
• Vaccines by Age Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Why Should I Care about Germs? Nemours Foundation

Teenagers

• When To Let Your Teenager Start Dating American Academy of Pediatrics