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This resource gives clear facts on why eating healthy is important. It lists the benefits of following a nutritional diet, how to follow a diet, and how diet food options can start at an early age. Limiting sugar intake, salts, and eating less fats are some of the ways this article mentions eating healthy. Healthy diets consist of fruits, vegatbles, grains, protein, and dairy.

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WHO’s primary role is to direct international health within the United Nations’ system and to lead partners in global health responses.

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This is a graph of a plate showing each of the substances you should take in to maintain a balanced diet. Diary, fruits, grains, vegetables, and protein are the five food groups. This helps support our growth and development. In turn, this helps create long-term healthy eating habits.

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Underage drinking is not only dangerous but illegal. It can cause health issues, behavior changes, and harm brain development. Peer pressure and stress are the top causes of drinking in young adults. Family members, schools, and community supprt can help keep teens away from the intake of alcohol. This article also provides warning signs of underage drinking.

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Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States. Alcohol is the most widely used substance among America's youth and can cause them enormous health and safety risks.

The consequences of underage drinking can affect everyone-regardless of age or drinking status.

Either directly or indirectly, we all feel the effects of the aggressive behavior, property damage, injuries, violence, and deaths that can result from underage drinking. This is not simply a problem for some families-it is a nationwide concern.

Underage Drinking Statistics
Many Youth Drink Alcohol

In 2021, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), about 20.9% of youth ages 14 to 15 reported having at least 1 drink in their lifetime. ¹

In 2021, 5.9 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported drinking alcohol beyond "just a few sips" in the past month. ²

Adolescent alcohol use differs by race and ethnicity. For example, at age 14, White, Black, and Hispanic youth are equally likely to drink. By age 18, White and Hispanic youth are twice as likely to drink than Black youth. ³

How Much Is a Drink?

In the United States, a standard drink is defined as any beverage containing 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol (also known as an alcoholic drink equivalent), which is found in:

12 ounces of beer with about 5% alcohol content

5 ounces of wine with about 12% alcohol content

1.5 ounces of distilled spirits with about 40% alcohol content

The percentage of pure alcohol, expressed here as alcohol by volume (alc/vol), varies within and across beverage types. Although the standard drink amounts are helpful for following health guidelines, they may not reflect customary serving sizes. A large cup of beer, an overpoured glass of wine, or a single mixed drink could contain much more alcohol than a standard drink.
Youth Often Binge Drink
People ages 12 to 20 drink 3.4% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. ⁴ Although youth drink less often than adults, when they do drink, they drink more. More than 90% of all alcohol drinks consumed by youth are consumed through binge drinking ⁵ (see the "What Is Binge Drinking?" box).

In 2021, 3.2 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking at least once in the past month. ²

In 2021, approximately 613,000 youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking on 5 or more days over the past month. ²

SOURCE: 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Tables 1.7B, 2.3B, 2.8B. Accessed January 19, 2023.

Drinking Patterns Vary by Age and Gender
Alcohol use often begins during adolescence and becomes more likely as adolescents age. In 2021, fewer than 2 in 100 adolescents ages 12 to 13 reported drinking alcohol in the past month, and fewer than 1 in 100 engaged in binge drinking. Among respondents ages 16 to 17, fewer than 1 in 5 reported drinking, and fewer than 1 in 10 reported binge drinking. ⁶ Implementing prevention strategies during early adolescence is needed to prevent this escalation, particularly because earlier alcohol use is associated with a higher likelihood of a variety of alcohol-related consequences. ⁷

Historically, adolescent boys were more likely to drink and binge drink than girls. Now, that relationship has reversed. Alcohol use in recent years has declined more among adolescent boys than among girls, with more adolescent girls reporting alcohol use and binge drinking than boys. 8,9

SOURCE: Population prevalence estimates (%) are weighted by the person-level analysis weight and derived from the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH-2-21-DS0001) public-use data file. Binge alcohol use is defined as drinking 5 or more drinks on the same occasion for males or 4 or more drinks on the same occasion for females on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. Any alcohol is defined as a drink of an alcohol beverage (a can or bottle of beer, a glass of wine or a wine cooler, a shot of distilled spirits, or a mixed drink with distilled spirits in it), not counting a sip or two from a drink. [cited 2023 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.datafiles.samhsa.gov/dataset/national-survey-drug-use-and-health-2021-nsduh-2021-ds0001.

Underage Drinking Is Dangerous

Underage drinking poses a range of risks and negative consequences. It is dangerous because it:

Causes many deaths. Alcohol is a significant factor in the deaths of people younger than age 21 in the United States each year. This includes deaths from motor vehicle crashes, homicides, alcohol overdoses, falls, burns, drowning, and suicides.

Causes many injuries. Drinking alcohol can cause youth to have accidents and get hurt. In 2011 alone, about 188,000 people younger than age 21 visited an emergency room for alcohol-related injuries.¹⁰

Impairs judgment. Drinking can lead to poor decisions about taking risks, including unsafe sexual behavior, drinking and driving, and aggressive or violent behavior.

Increases the risk of physical and sexual assault. Underage binge drinking is associated with an increased likelihood of being the victim or perpetrator of interpersonal violence.¹¹

Can lead to other problems. Drinking may cause youth to have trouble in school or with the law. Drinking alcohol also is associated with the use of other substances.

Increases the risk of alcohol problems later in life. Research shows that people who start drinking before the age of 15 are at a higher risk for developing alcohol use disorder (AUD) later in life. For example, adults ages 26 and older who began drinking before age 15 are 3.5 times more likely to report having AUD in the past year than those who waited until age 21 or later to begin drinking.¹²

Interferes with brain development. Research shows that people's brains keep developing well into their 20s. Alcohol can alter this development, potentially affecting both brain structure and function. This may cause cognitive or learning problems as well as may increase vulnerability for AUD, especially when people start drinking at a young age and drink heavily.13,14

Why Do So Many Youth Drink?

As children mature, it is natural for them to assert their independence, seek new challenges, and engage in risky behavior. Underage drinking is one such behavior that attracts many adolescents. They may want to try alcohol but often do not fully recognize its effects on their health and behavior. Other reasons youth drink alcohol include:

In addition, many youth have easy access to alcohol. In 2021, among adolescents ages 12 to 14 who reported drinking alcohol in the past month, 99.7% reported getting it for free the last time they drank. 15 In many cases, adolescents have access to alcohol through family members or find it at home.

What Is Binge Drinking?

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%-or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter-or more.* This typically happens if a woman has 4 or more drinks, or a man has 5 or more drinks, within about 2 hours. Research shows that fewer drinks in the same timeframe result in the same BAC in youth: only 3 drinks for girls, and 3 to 5 drinks for boys, depending on their age and size. ²¹

*A BAC of 0.08% corresponds to 0.08 grams per deciliter, or 0.08 grams per 100 milliliters.

Preventing Underage Drinking

Preventing underage drinking is a complex challenge. Any successful approach must consider many factors, including:

Several key approaches have been found to be successful. They are:

Individual-level interventions. This approach seeks to change the way youth think about alcohol so they are better able to resist pressures to drink.

School-based interventions. These are programs that provide students with the knowledge, skills, motivation, and opportunities they need to remain alcohol-free.

Family-based interventions. These are efforts to empower parents to set and enforce clear rules against drinking, as well as improve communication between children and parents about alcohol.

Community-based interventions. Community-based interventions are often coordinated by local coalitions working to mitigate risk factors for alcohol misuse.

Policy-level interventions. This approach makes alcohol harder to get-for example, by raising the price of alcohol and keeping the minimum legal drinking age at 21. Enacting zero-tolerance laws that outlaw driving after any amount of drinking for people younger than 21 can also help prevent problems.

The Role Parents Play

Parents and teachers can play a meaningful role in shaping youth's attitudes toward drinking. Parents, in particular, can have either a positive or negative influence.

Parents can help their children avoid alcohol problems by:

Talking about the dangers of drinking

Drinking responsibly, if they choose to drink

Serving as positive role models in general

Not making alcohol available

Getting to know their children's friends

Having regular conversations about life in general

Connecting with other parents about sending clear messages about the importance of youth not drinking alcohol

Supervising all parties to make sure there is no alcohol

Encouraging kids to participate in healthy and fun activities that do not involve alcohol

Research shows that children of actively involved parents are less likely to drink alcohol. 16 However, if parents provide alcohol to their kids (even small amounts), have positive attitudes about drinking, and engage in alcohol misuse, adolescents have an increased risk of misusing alcohol. Moreover, if the adolescent has a parent with AUD, they are less likely to be protected from alcohol misuse through parental engagement and other factors. ¹⁷

Warning Signs of Underage Drinking

Adolescence is a time of change and growth, including behavior changes. These changes usually are a normal part of growing up but sometimes can point to an alcohol problem. Parents, families, and teachers should pay close attention to the following warning signs that may indicate underage drinking: 18,19

Changes in mood, including anger and irritability

Academic or behavioral problems in school

Rebelliousness

Changing groups of friends

Low energy level

Less interest in activities or care in appearance

Finding alcohol among an adolescent's belongings

Smelling alcohol on an adolescent's breath

Problems concentrating or remembering

Slurred speech

Coordination problems

Treating Underage Drinking Problems

Screening youth for alcohol use and AUD is very important and may prevent problems down the road. Screening by a primary care provider or other health practitioner (e.g., pediatrician) provides an opportunity to identify problems early and address them before they escalate. It also allows adolescents to ask questions of a knowledgeable adult. NIAAA and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend that all youth be regularly screened for alcohol use.

Some youth can experience serious problems as a result of drinking, including AUD, which require intervention by trained professionals. Professional treatment options include:

Attending individual or group counseling sessions one or more times per week

Receiving a prescription from a primary care provider or psychiatrist to help reduce alcohol cravings

Participating in family therapy to build a supportive foundation for recovery

For more information, please visit: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), caution should be used when comparing estimates from the 2020 and 2021 NSDUH to those of prior years because of methodological changes. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, data for NSDUH were collected during in-home visits using computer assisted techniques. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a delay in data collection during 2020 and the introduction of web-based data collection with very limited in-person data collection. Because these changes in data collection coincided with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and any related behavioral or mental health changes, we cannot fully separate the effects of methodological changes from true changes in the outcomes. Please see the Methodological Summary and Definitions for more information.

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) [Internet]. 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 2.8B-Alcohol use in lifetime, past year, and past month: among people aged 12 or older; by detailed age category, percentages. [cited 2023 Jan 19]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt39441/NSDUHD...

2. SAMHSA, CBHSQ [Internet]. 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 2.44A-Alcohol use in lifetime, past year, and past month and binge alcohol and heavy alcohol use in past month: among people aged 12 to 20; by demographic characteristics, numbers in thousands, 2021 [cited 2023 Jan 10]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt39441/NSDUHD...

3. Chen CM, Yoon YH [Internet]. NIAAA Surveillance Report #116: Trends in underage drinking in the United States, 1991-2019. Figure 1-5. NSDUH: Prevalence of drinking in the past 30 days among 12- to 20-year-olds, by age, sex, and race/Hispanic origin. Sterling, VA: CSR, Inc.; 2021 March [cited 2023 Feb 20]. Available from: https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/surveillance116/figures19.htm#f...

4. Calculated using past 30-day quantity and frequency of alcohol use from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health public-use data file. SAMHSA, CBHSQ. [Internet] 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH-2021-DS0001). Public-use file dataset. [cited 2023 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.datafiles.samhsa.gov/dataset/national-survey-drug-use-and-h...

5. Calculated using past 30-day quantity and frequency of alcohol use and past 30-day frequency of binge drinking (4+ drinks for females and 5+ drinks for males on the same occasion) from the 2021 NSDUH public-use data file. SAMHSA, CBHSQ [Internet]. 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH-2021-DS0001). Public-use file dataset. [cited 2023 Mar 6]. Available from: https://www.datafiles.samhsa.gov/dataset/national-survey-drug-use-and-h...

6. SAMHSA. CBHSQ [Internet]. 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 2.9B-Alcohol, binge alcohol, and heavy alcohol use in past month: among people aged 12 or older; by detailed age category, percentages, 2021 [cited 2023 Feb 20]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt39441/NSDUHD...

7. Hingson RW, Zha W. Age of drinking onset, alcohol use disorders, frequent heavy drinking, and unintentionally injuring oneself and others after drinking. Pediatrics. 2009 Jun;123(6):1477-484. PubMed PMID: 19482757

8. Population prevalence estimates (%) are weighted by the person-level analysis weight and derived from the CBHSQ 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH-2021-DS0001) public-use file dataset. Binge alcohol use is defined as drinking 5 or more drinks on the same occasion for males or 4 or more drinks on the same occasion for females on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. Any alcohol is defined as a drink of an alcohol beverage (a can or bottle of beer, a glass of wine or a wine cooler, a shot of distilled spirits, or a mixed drink with distilled spirits in it), not counting a sip or two from a drink. [cited 2023 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.datafiles.samhsa.gov/dataset/national-survey-drug-use-and-h...

9. Chen CM, Yoon YH, Faden VB [Internet]. Surveillance Report #107: Trends in underage drinking in the United States, 1991-2015. Bethesda, MD: NIAAA; 2017 March [cited 2023 Feb 20]. Available from: https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/surveillance107/Underage15.htm

10. SAMHSA, CBHSQ. The DAWN Report: Alcohol and drug combinations are more likely to have a serious outcome than alcohol alone in emergency department visits involving underage drinking. Rockville, MD: SAMHSA; 2014 [cited 2023 Feb 20]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/spot143-underage-drinki...

11. Waterman EA, Lee KDM, Edwards KM. Longitudinal associations of binge drinking with interpersonal violence among adolescents. J Youth Adolesc. 2019 Jul;48:1342-52, 2019. PubMed PMID: 31079263

12. The comparison of risk for AUD between different ages at drinking onset is based on the prevalence ratio; the comparison of the increased risk between genders is based on the ratio of the prevalence ratios. The estimates are weighted by the person-level analysis weight and derived from the CBHSQ 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH-2021-DS0001) public-use file dataset. Age at drinking onset: age when first drank an alcohol beverage (a can or bottle of beer, a glass of wine or a wine cooler, a shot of liquor, or a mixed drink with liquor in it), not counting a sip or two from a drink. AUD: having met two or more of the 11 AUD diagnostic criteria in the past-year according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). [cited 2023 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.datafiles.samhsa.gov/dataset/national-survey-drug-use-and-h...

13. Squeglia LM, Tapert SF, Sullivan EV, Jacobus J, Meloy MJ, Rohlfing T, Pfefferbaum A. Brain development in heavy-drinking adolescents. Am J Psychiatry. 2015 Jun;172(6):531-42, 2015. PubMed PMID: 25982660

14. Pfefferbaum A, Kwon D, Brumback T, Thompson WK, Cummins K, Tapert SF, Brown SA, Colrain IM, Baker FC, Prouty D, De Bellis MD, Clark DB, Nagel BJ, Chu W, Park SH, Pohl KM, Sullivan EV. Altered brain developmental trajectories in adolescents after initiating drinking. Am J Psychiatry. 2018 Apr;175(4):370-80. PubMed PMID: 29084454

15. SAMHSA, CBHSQ [Internet]. 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Table 8.20B-Source where alcohol was obtained for most recent use in past month: among past month alcohol users aged 12 to 20, by age group and gender: Percentages, 2021. [cited 2023 Feb 20]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt39441/NSDUHD...

16. van der Vorst H, Engels RC, Meeus W, Deković M. The impact of alcohol-specific rules, parental norms about early drinking and parental alcohol use on adolescents' drinking behavior. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2006 Dec;47(12):1299-306. PubMed PMID: 17176385

17. Yap M, Cheong T, Zaravinos-Tsakos F, Lubman DI, Jorm, A. Modifiable parenting factors associated with adolescent alcohol misuse: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Addiction. 2017 Jul;112(7):1142-62, 2017. PubMed PMID: 28178373

18. Rusby JC, Light JM, Crowley R, Westling E. Influence of parent-youth relationship, parental monitoring, and parent substance use on adolescent substance use onset. J Fam Psychol. 2018 Apr;32(3):310-20. PubMed PMID: 29300096

19. SAMHSA [Internet]. How to tell if your child is drinking alcohol. Rockville (MD): SAMHSA; [updated 2022 Apr 14; cited 2023 Feb 20]. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/underage-drinking/parent-resources/how-tell-if-y...

20. NIAAA. Defining binge drinking. What colleges need to know now. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health; 2007 Nov [cited 2023 Feb 20]. Available from: https://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/media/1College_Bulletin-508_3...

21. Chung T, Creswell KG, Bachrach R, Clark DB, Martin CS. Adolescent binge drinking: developmental context and opportunities for prevention. Alcohol Res. 2018;39(1):5-15. PubMed PMID: 30557142

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Underage drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States. Alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among America's youth, and drinking by young people poses enormous health and safety risks.

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In the article, the CDC provides immediate and long term benefits of physical activity. Such as improving mood, reducing anxiety, and sharping thinking skills. Physical activity over time can help you lose/ manage weight, lowering heart disease, diabetes, and several different health conditions. Even a little physical activity can make a difference in your life.

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Immediate and long-term benefits of physical activity

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In this video, Susannah Phillips lists ways you can incorporate physical activity into your busy daily routines. She states what physical activity is and how it is different than exercise. An example she uses is taking the stairs rather than the elevator.

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Incorporating Physical Activity into Your Daily Routine

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Mental Health Benefits from Physical Activity

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Mental Health Benefits from Physical Activity

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This article highlights how light activity, such as yoga, has benefits for mental health. It can reduce depression, anxiety, stress, and improve sleep quality. Incorporating physical activity is an inexpensive way improve mental health and overall well being.

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Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review

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In addition to the apparent physical health benefits, physical activity also affects mental health positively. Physically inactive individuals have been reported to have higher rates of morbidity and healthcare expenditures. Commonly, exercise…

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The CDC reports facts about diabetes in America. It states how this disease is more common in older adults, certain racial groups, and rural areas. However, youth rates are on the rise for diabetes. This is a serious health condition.

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Fast Facts on Diabetes

Diabetes

Total: 38.4 million people have diabetes (11.6% of the U.S. population)

Diagnosed: 29.7 million people, including 29.4 million adults

Undiagnosed: 8.7 million people (22.8% of adults with diabetes are undiagnosed)

Prediabetes

Total: 97.6 million people aged 18 years or older have prediabetes (38.0% of the adult U.S. population)

65 years or older: 27.2 million people aged 65 years or older (48.8%) have prediabetes

Prevalence of both diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes

Among the U.S. population overall, crude estimates for 2021 were:
Table 1a. Estimated crude prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and total diabetes among adults aged 18 years or older, United States, 2017-2020
Notes: CI = confidence interval. Time period 2017-2020 covers January 2017 through March 2020 only. Diagnosed diabetes was based on self-report. Undiagnosed diabetes was based on fasting plasma glucose and A1C levels among people self-reporting no diabetes. Numbers for subgroups may not add up to the total because of rounding. Age-adjusted estimates are presented in Appendix Table 1. Data source: 2017-March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Table 1b. Estimated number of adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and total diabetes, United States, 2021
Notes: CI = confidence interval. Estimated numbers for 2021 were derived from percentages for 2017-March 2020 applied to July 1, 2021, U.S. resident population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau (See detailed methods and data sources). Diagnosed diabetes was based on self-report. Undiagnosed diabetes was based on fasting plasma glucose and A1C levels among people self-reporting no diabetes. Numbers for subgroups may not add up to the total because of rounding.

Data sources: 2017-March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data.

Trends in prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and total diabetes

During 2001-2020, the age-adjusted prevalence of total diabetes significantly increased among adults aged 18 years or older (Figure 1).

Prevalence estimates for total diabetes were 10.3% in 2001-2004 and 13.2% in 2017-2020 (Appendix Table 2).

During this period, the age-adjusted prevalence significantly increased for diagnosed diabetes. No significant change in undiagnosed diabetes prevalence was found (Figure 1; Appendix Table 2).

Figure 1. Trends in age-adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and total diabetes among adults aged 18 years or older, United States, 2001-2020
Notes: Diagnosed diabetes was based on self-report. Undiagnosed diabetes was based on fasting plasma glucose and A1C levels among people self-reporting no diabetes. Time period 2017-2020 covers January 2017 through March 2020 only.

Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes

Among the U.S. population overall, crude estimates for 2021 were:

Among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older, age-adjusted data for 2019-2021 indicated the following:

For both men and women, prevalence of diagnosed diabetes was highest among American Indian and Alaska Native adults (13.6%), followed by non-Hispanic Black adults (12.1%), adults of Hispanic origin (11.7%), non-Hispanic Asian adults (9.1%) and non-Hispanic White adults (6.9%) (Appendix Table 3).

Prevalence varied significantly by education level, which is an indicator of socioeconomic status. Specifically, 13.1% of adults with less than a high school education had diagnosed diabetes versus 9.1% of those with a high school education and 6.9% of those with more than a high school education (Appendix Table 3).

Adults with family income above 500% of the federal poverty level had the lowest prevalence for both men (6.3%) and women (3.9%) (Appendix Table 3).

For both men and women, prevalence was higher among adults living in nonmetropolitan areas compared to those in metropolitan areas (Figure 2; Appendix Table 3).

Figure 2. Age-adjusted estimated prevalence of diagnosed diabetes by metropolitan residence and sex for adults aged 18 years or older, United States, 2019-2021
Note: Error bars represent upper and lower bounds of the 95% confidence interval.
Table 2. Crude prevalence of diagnosed diabetes by detailed race and ethnicity among adults aged 18 years or older, United States, 2019-2021
Note: CI = confidence interval. Data sources: National Center for Health Statistics; 2019-2021 National Health Interview Survey.

County-level prevalence among adults

Among U.S. adults aged 20 years or older, age-adjusted, county-level data indicated:
Figure 3. Age-adjusted, county-level prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among adults aged 20 years or older, United States, 2004 and 2021

Incidence of newly diagnosed diabetes

Incidence among adults

Among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older, crude estimates for 2021 were:

Among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older, age-adjusted data for 2019-2021 indicated:

Compared to non-Hispanic White adults and Asian adults, incidence estimates were higher for non-Hispanic Black adults and Hispanic adults (Appendix Table 4).

Incidence rates of diagnosed diabetes were higher among those with less than high school education and those with high school education only compared to adults with more than high school education (Appendix Table 4).

Incidence was similar among adults living in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas (Appendix Table 4).

Table 3. Estimated crude incidence of diagnosed diabetes among adults aged 18 years or older, United States, 2019-2021
CI = confidence interval.

a Population estimates for 2021 were derived from rates for 2019-2021 applied to July 1, 2021 U.S. resident population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau (See Appendix B: Detailed Methods).

b Rates were calculated using 2021 data only.

Data sources: 2019-2021 National Health Interview Survey and 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data.

Trends in incidence among adults

Among adults aged 18 years or older, the age-adjusted incidence of diagnosed diabetes was similar in 2000 (6.2 per 1,000 adults) and 2021 (5.8 per 1,000 adults). A significant decreasing trend in incidence was detected after 2008 (8.4 per 1,000 adults) through 2021. (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Trends in age-adjusted incidence of diagnosed diabetes among adults aged 18 years or older, United States, 2000-2021
Notes: Data shown are estimated incidence rates (solid blue line) and 95% confidence intervals (shaded). Joinpoint identified in 2008 (see Appendix B: Detailed Methods and Data Sources). Because of changes to the survey design and survey instruments after 2018, comparisons of the 2000-2018 and 2019-2021 data should be examined with caution.

County-level incidence among adults

Among US adults aged 20 years or older, age-adjusted, county-level data indicated:

Estimates of diagnosed diabetes incidence varied across U.S. counties, ranging from 2.2 to 53.5 per 1,000 people in 2020 (for more detail, see U.S. Diabetes Surveillance System).

Median county-level incidence of diagnosed diabetes was 9.7 and 9.0 per 1,000 people in 2004 and 2020, respectively (for more detail, see U.S. Diabetes Surveillance System).

Incidence among children and adolescents

Data from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study indicated that, during 2017-2018, the estimated annual number of newly diagnosed cases in the United States included:

Trends in incidence among children and adolescents

Among U.S. children and adolescents aged younger than 20 years, modeled data in Figure 5 showed:

Among U.S. children and adolescents aged 10 to 19 years, modeled data in Figure 5 showed:
Figure 5. Trends in incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents, overall and by race and ethnicity, 2002-2018
Note: Adapted from Wagenknecht LE et al. Data are model-adjusted incidence estimates (see Appendix B: Detailed Methods and Data Sources).

Prevalence of prediabetes among adults

Among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older, age-adjusted data for 2017-2020 indicated:

10.8% of adults had prediabetes, based on both elevated fasting plasma glucose and A1C levels (Appendix Table 5).

A higher percentage of men (41.0%) than women (32.0%) had prediabetes, based on their fasting glucose or A1C level (Appendix Table 6).

Prevalence of prediabetes (based on fasting glucose or A1C level) was similar among all racial and ethnic groups and education levels (Appendix Table 6).

Table 4. Estimated number, percentage, and awareness of prediabetesa among adults aged 18 years or older, United States, 2017-2020 and 2021

Notes: CI = confidence interval. Data are crude estimates (see Appendix B: Detailed Methods and Data Sources). Time period 2017-2020 covers January 2017 through March 2020 only.

a Prediabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose values of 100 to 125 mg/dL or A1C values of 5.7% to 6.4%.

b Prediabetes awareness was based on self-report and estimated only among adults with prediabetes.

Data sources: 2017-March 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data.

Trends in prevalence of prediabetes among adults

There were no significant changes in age-adjusted prevalence of prediabetes from 2005-2008 to 2017-2020 (Appendix Table 7). About one-third of U.S. adults had prediabetes over the entire period.

Among adults with prediabetes, the age-adjusted percentage aware that they had this condition increased from 6.5% in 2005-2008 to 17.4% in 2017-2020 (Appendix Table 7).

Risk factors for diabetes-related complications

Among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed diabetes, crude estimates for 2017-2020 shown in Appendix Table 8 were:

Smoking

Overweight and obesity

89.8% were overweight or had obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² or higher. Specifically

26.9% were overweight (BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m²).

47.1% had obesity (BMI of 30.0 to 39.9 kg/m²).

15.7% had extreme obesity (BMI of 40.0 kg/m² or higher).

Physical inactivity

31.9% were physically inactive, defined as getting less than 10 minutes a week of moderate or vigorous activity in each physical activity category of work, leisure time, and transportation.

A1C

10.4% of adults aged 18-44 years had A1C levels of 10% or higher, compared to 9.4% of those aged 45-64 years and 2.6% of those aged 65 years or older (Appendix Table 9).

High blood pressure

80.6% had a systolic blood pressure of 130 mmHg or higher or diastolic blood pressure of 80 mmHg or higher or were on prescription medication for their high blood pressure (Appendix Table 8).

70.8% had a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher or were on prescription medication for their high blood pressure (Appendix Table 8).

High cholesterol*

* Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL) contains all the atherogenic lipoproteins, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), very-low-density lipoprotein, lipoprotein(a), and others. Growing evidence supports non-HDL as a better predictor of cardiovascular disease risk than LDL.

Preventing diabetes-related complications

Among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed diabetes, crude data for 2017-2020 shown in Appendix Table 10 indicated:

Usual source for diabetes care

78.8% reported having at least one usual source of diabetes care, such as a doctor or other health care professional.

Physical activity

24.1% met the recommended goal of at least 150 minutes per week of leisure-time physical activity.

Weight management

73.1% reported managing or losing weight to lower their risk for developing certain diseases.

Statin treatment

57.8% of adults aged 40-75 years were on statin therapy.

A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking (ABCs)
Table 5. Crude percentage of adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed diabetes meeting all ABCs goals3 4, United States, 2017-2020
Notes: ABCs = A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking. CI = confidence interval. Estimates are crude percentages and 95% confidence intervals.

Data source: 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed diabetes, crude data for 2021 indicated:

Vaccinations

Among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed diabetes, crude data for 2021 indicated:

65.9% (95% CI, 63.8-68.0) had received an influenza vaccination in the past year.

26.2% (95% CI, 24.2-28.3) had ever received a hepatitis B vaccination.
35.9% (95% CI, 32.2-39.8) of adults aged 18-59 years had ever received a hepatitis B vaccination.

50.7% (95% CI, 48.6-52.9) had ever received a pneumococcal vaccination.

Coexisting conditions and complications

Emergency department visits

In 2020, about 16.8 million emergency department visits were reported with diabetes as any listed diagnosis among adults aged 18 years or older (Table 6), including:

Table 6. Number and rate of emergency department visits per 1,000 adults aged 18 years or older with diabetes for selected causes, United States, 2019 and 2020

Note: CI = confidence interval. Numbers rounded to the nearest thousand. Data sources: 2019 and 2020 National Emergency Department Sample; 2019 and 2020 National Health Interview Survey.

In 2020, of the emergency department visits with diabetes as any listed diagnosis among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older, disposition data (see Appendix B: Detailed Methods and Data Sources) indicated:

Hospitalizations

In 2020, a total of 7.86 million hospital discharges were reported with diabetes as any listed diagnosis among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older (335.4 per 1,000 adults with diabetes) (Table 7). These discharges included:

1.68 million for major cardiovascular diseases (71.6 per 1,000 adults with diabetes), including:

368,000 for ischemic heart disease (15.7 per 1,000 adults with diabetes).

321,000 for stroke (13.7 per 1,000 adults with diabetes).

160,000 for a lower-extremity amputation (6.8 per 1,000 adults with diabetes).

232,000 for hyperglycemic crisis (9.9 per 1,000 adults with diabetes).

51,000 for hypoglycemia (2.2 per 1,000 adults with diabetes).

Table 7. Number and rate of hospitalizations per 1,000 adults aged 18 years or older with diabetes for selected causes, United States, 2019 and 2020
Notes: CI = confidence interval. Numbers rounded to the nearest thousand. Data sources: 2019 and 2020 National Inpatient Sample; 2019 and 2020 National Health Interview Survey.

Kidney disease

Among U.S. adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed diabetes, crude data for 2017-2020 shown in Appendix Table 11 indicated:

40.9% had chronic kidney disease (CKD, stages 1-4), based on the 2009 CKD-EPI eGFR equation, which included a factor for non-Hispanic Black race.

In 2019:

Vision disability

* Direct costs = medical costs; indirect costs = lost productivity from work-related absenteeism, reduced productivity at work and at home, unemployment from chronic disability, and premature mortality.

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The National Diabetes Statistics Report is a periodic publication that provides updated statistics about diabetes in the United States for a scientific audience.

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The resource above highlights how sports and being on a team have benefits for young children. The author uses statistics to demonstrate how important sports are for our bodies. This article links the importance between physical activity and mental health in the youth.

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Mental Health Benefits of Playing Sports | Mental Health in Sports

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Joining a sports team can bring mental and physical health benefits. Sports can decrease the chances of anxiety or other mental health issues. Learn more.

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Starting goals to change your life can be hard, which is why you should set SMART goals. The article also highlights the importance of integrating new habits into existing routines. Always celebrate small wins to create a positive outlook.

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It’s great to start the new year by setting new health goals. Here’s how you can turn those New Year’s resolutions into healthy habits that last a lifetime.

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This article uses charts and facts to show the improve cardiovascular health. It emphasizes the target ranges for your heart rate while working out. The chart addresses if you are just starting working out that is may be ideal to stay at the lower end of your target zone and gradually increase as fitness improves.

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What should your heart rate be when working out, and how can you keep track of it? Our simple chart will help keep you in the target training zone, whether you want to lose weight or just maximize your workout. Find out what normal resting and maximum heart rates are for your age and how exercise intensity and other factors affect heart rate.

How do I get my heart rate in the target zone?

When you work out, are you doing too much or not enough? There's a simple way to know: Your target heart rate helps you hit the bullseye so you can get max benefit from every step, swing and squat. Even if you're not a gym rat or elite athlete, knowing your heart rate (or pulse) can help you track your health and fitness level.

What is a resting heart rate?

Your resting heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute when you're at rest. A good time to check it is in the morning after you've had a good night's sleep, before you get out of bed or grab that first cup of java!

Is resting heart rate different by age?

For most of us (adults), between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm) is normal. The rate can be affected by factors like stress, anxiety, hormones, medication, and how physically active you are. An athlete or more active person may have a resting heart rate as low as 40 beats per minute. Now that's chill!

When it comes to resting heart rate, lower is better. It usually means your heart muscle is in better condition and doesn't have to work as hard to maintain a steady beat. Studies have found that a higher resting heart rate is linked with lower physical fitness and higher blood pressure and body weight.

Know Your Numbers: Maximum and Target Heart Rate by Age

This table shows target heart rate zones for different ages. Your maximum heart rate is about 220 minus your age.

In the age category closest to yours, read across to find your target heart rates. Target heart rate during moderate intensity activities is about 50-70% of maximum heart rate, while during vigorous physical activity it's about 70-85% of maximum.

The figures are averages, so use them as a general guide.

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Track your normal resting, maximum or target heart rate with our simple chart and learn how exercise intensity can affect heart rate, losing weight and overall health.