GRAMPIAN YOUTH LIFESTYLE SURVEY 2008

1. GRAMPIAN YOUTH LIFESTYLE SURVEY 2008 Summary of Key Results

2. Introduction • Previous surveys in 1992, 1995, 1998,2001 • All secondary schools • 10 % sample years 1 to 6 • 71% response rate • New in 2007 – 18-25 yr olds

3. General Health • 72% said their health was above average, and this is increasing • 14% reported long term illness or disability • Of these, 54% named asthma

4. General Health 2 Comparing the LAs • Moray had more reporting very good health: 24% cf Grampian average 20% • Moray had fewer reporting long term illness or disability: 11% cf 14%

5. General Health 3 • 80% of boys happy with their body, but only 56% of girls • 64% of girls worried about gaining weight • Average BMI is increasing • Also increase in those who think they are overweight

6. Trends in Weight

7. Mental Health • Exams were an issue of concern for most boys and girls • Most girls worried about their appearance • When under pressure, most respondents listened to music, found a distraction, or spent more time being sociable

8. Food • 45% said they had changed their diet • Fewer are regularly eating lunch or an evening meal every day • More than a third eat chips three or more times a week • Consumption of fruit and vegetables has increased

9. Regular Meals

10. Physical Activity • 79% said they tried to take more exercise in the last year • Outside school, 60% of boys and 30% of girls take vigorous exercise on most days of the week

11. Leisure • Half of boys and girls spent 1 to 3 hours a day watching TV • 54% of boys and 17% of girls spent at least an hour playing computer games

12. Smoking • 17% of boys and 22% of girls smoke daily or most days • 30% of smokers have 1 to 5 cigarettes a day • The average age of starting smoking is 13 years

13. Smoking 2 Comparing the LAs • In Moray, more boys than girls smoke, similar to the adult pattern • 20% of boys and 17% of girls in Moray smoke daily or most days

14. Alcohol • 83% had tried alcohol • 30% had alcohol in the previous week • Level of consumption in previous week has increased by 7 units since 1995

15. Alcohol

16. Safety • 44% cycle regularly, but this is falling • Only 27% of cyclists wear safety gear • 33% use roller-blades, of whom 23% wear safety gear • 23% use skateboards, of whom 13% wear protective clothing

17. Safety 2 Comparing the LAs • More regular cycling in Shire and Moray (48% & 47% cf 38% in City) • But only 21% in Moray wear safety gear (City 30%, Shire 33%)

18. Sexual Health • Fewer are worried about HIV • More are confused about how HIV is transmitted • 74% have had a boyfriend, of whom 26% have had sexual intercourse • 75% always use contraceptives

19. HIV Awareness % Responding Correctly

20. Drugs • 42% had been offered drugs • 21% had taken drugs, and this percentage is falling • Of those who had taken drugs, 91% tried cannabis • At least 1 in 20 said they had taken magic mushrooms, amphetamine, Ecstacy, cocaine, Diazepam, Temazepam, LSD

21. Conclusions • Some positive changes e.g. - better self-perceived health - higher consumption of fruit and veg - greater awareness of need to exercise - fewer trying drugs

22. Conclusions 2 • But many areas of concern e.g. - smoking - more binge drinking - increasing BMI - fewer eating regular meals - poorer awareness of HIV - fewer taking safety precautions