Health Topics
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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.
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Germs: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and Protozoa (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Vaccinations for Preteens and Teens (Immunization Action Coalition) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Vaccines by Age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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) Also in Spanish
- Understanding Medications and What They Do (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- Body Image and Self-Esteem (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Choosing a Primary Health Care Provider (PCP): General Information for Young Women (Boston Children's Hospital)
- Compulsive Exercise (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Gyn Checkups (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Hygiene Basics (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Media and Body Image (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
- Teens and Stress: Who Has Time for It? (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Testicular Exams (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- What Are the Risks of Steroid Use? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- What's the Right Weight for My Height? (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
-
Your First Pelvic Exam
(Boston Children's Hospital)
Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Female Athlete Triad (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- How Much Sleep Do I Need? (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Is It OK for My Child to Use Skin Care Products? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Nutrition (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
-
Smoking and Youth: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
-
Take Charge of Your Health: A Guide for Teenagers
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Also in Spanish
- Tanning (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
-
Teen Sexual Health: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
-
Underage Drinking: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
Health Check Tools
- Child and Teen BMI Calculator (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- How's Your Self-Esteem? (Quiz) (Nemours Foundation)
Statistics and Research
- Adolescent and Young Adult Health (World Health Organization) Also in Spanish
- 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)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Adolescent Health
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Cumulative determinants of adolescent health indicators: the effects of social and...
- Article: Youth mental health services in Hong Kong: evidence, interconnectedness, and challenges.
- Article: Effective coverage measurements and cascade for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent...
- Teen Health -- see more articles
Find an Expert
-
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Also in Spanish
- Find a Pediatrician or Pediatric Specialist (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
- KidsHealth (Nemours Foundation)
Teenagers
- When To Let Your Teenager Start Dating (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Teenagers and sleep (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.