In the period 2019–2020, 92 percent of children and young people aged 4 to 25 perceived their own health as good or very good. This had hardly changed compared with previous years. There are, however, differences by age within this group.
For children under 12, one of the parents or caregivers answers the question about their general state of health. Among children aged 4 to 12, perceived health was good or very good for 97 percent in 2019–2020. Among young people aged 12 to 18, this was slightly lower at 91 percent, while 88 percent of young adults aged 18 to 25 rated their own health as (very) good.
Overweight among 4- to 25-year-olds increased slightly
In 2019–2020, 18 percent of 4- to 25-year-olds were overweight. This was slightly higher than in previous years. In 2015–2016 and 2017–2018, this was 16 percent. Overweight is most common among young adults (25 percent).
Young people who are overweight are less positive about their own health
For children under 12, there is no significant difference in perceived health between children who are overweight and those who are not. Young people aged 12 and over who are overweight are less positive about their health than young people who are not overweight.
Among young people aged 12 to 18 who are not overweight, 93 percent perceive their own health as (very) good. Among their peers who are overweight, this is 83 percent. Young adults who are not overweight also more often perceive their own health as (very) good (90 percent) than those who are overweight (84 percent).
Sources
- · StatLine link – Positive assessment of health among young people (0 to 25 years)
- · StatLine link – Lifestyle; overweight (young people aged 2 to 25)
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