Overview of the 2011 Healthy Kids survey
In the fall 2011, a total of 1,523 students in 33 public high schools throughout Colorado completed the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS), which includes components of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The HKCS consists of questions related to health and risk behaviors in the following domains: physical activity and nutrition; unintentional injuries and violence; mental health; alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; school and family; and sexual health.
Results from this survey provide a snapshot of these issues among Colorado's youth.
Physical Activity
q Just over half (53%) of Colorado high school students were physically active for at least 60 minutes on five or more of the past seven days; this differed between males (61%) and females (45%) as well as between non-Hispanic white students (56%) and Hispanic/Latino students (45%).
q One-fifth (21%) of students reported watching three or more hours of TV on an average school day. This decreased from 2005 (27%).
q Close to one-quarter (24%) of students played video games or used the computer for non-school work activities for three or more hours on an average school day. This increased from 2009 (18%).
Weight
q Based on self-report height and weight, 11% of Colorado high school students are overweight; this has not changed significantly over time. Overweight differed between non-Hispanic white students (8%) and Hispanic/Latino students (17%).
q Overall, 40% of students reported trying to lose weight. This differed between females (54%) and males (26%).
Nutrition
q A total of 64% of students reported eating fruit four or more times during the past week, and 65% reported eating vegetables four or more times during the past week.
q Overall, 39% of students ate breakfast on all of the past seven days. This differed by non-Hispanic white students (46%) and Hispanic/Latino students (27%).
Unintentional Injury & Violence
q One-quarter (25%) of students reported being in a physical fight in the past 12 months; this differed between males (30%) and females (18%), as well as between Hispanic/Latino students (33%) and non-Hispanic white students (19%).
q One-fifth (19%) of students reported that they had been bullied on school property in the past 12 months. The prevalence of bullying has not changed significantly compared to 2009.
q In the 30 days prior to the survey, 22% of students reported riding in a car with someone who had been drinking. Riding with a drinking driver has decreased since 2005 (27%).
Mental Health
q Over one-fifth (22%) of Colorado high school students reported that they felt sad or hopeless every day for at least two weeks within the past 12 months.
q A total of 6% of Colorado students reported attempting suicide in the past 12 months.
Alcohol Use
q Over one-third (36%) of students reported having one or more drinks of alcohol in the past 30 days. This has decreased since 2005 (47%).
q A total of 22% of students reported binge drinking in the past 30 days. Binge drinking among Colorado high school youth has also decreased from 2005 (31%).
Tobacco Use
q A total of 16% of high school students reported smoking one or more cigarettes in the past 30 days. There was no difference in the prevalence of cigarette use from 2005 or 2009, or between gender and race/ethnicity.
q A total of 7% of students report use of chewing tobacco, snuff or dip in the past 30 days. This differed between males (11%) and females (2%), and has decreased from 2009 (11%).
Illicit Drug Use
q 39.5% of students reported marijuana use (ever trying), and 22% of students reported marijuana use in the past 30 days. The prevalence of marijuana use has not changed compared to 2005 or 2009.
q 20% of students reported that they had taken a prescription drug (such as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, codeine, Adderall, Ritalin, or Xanax) without a doctor's prescription in their lifetime.
Sexual Health
q Overall, 41% of Colorado high school students report that they have had sexual intercourse at least once in their lifetime, and 32% report having had sexual intercourse within the past three months.
q 71% of students who were sexually active in the three months prior to the survey reported using a condom during their most recent sexual encounter. This increased for males from 2009 (67%) to 2011 (75%).
q 80% of students report having had HIV/AIDS education at school. This has not changed compared to prior years.
School and Family
q A total of 76% of Colorado high school students describe their grades as mostly A's or B's.
q A total of 70.5% of students report trying to do their best work in school either "often" or "almost always."
q 70% of Colorado students participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, band, drama, clubs, or student government. This differed between non-Hispanic white students (75%) and Hispanic/Latino students (58%).
q 87% of Colorado students felt that the rules in their family are clear, and 79% reported that they could talk with their parents or guardians for help if they had a personal problem.
blog comments powered by Disqus