Adolescent Health In Peril By 2030, Warns Lancet Study

By 2030, one billion adolescents worldwide will face major health challenges, including poor nutrition, anaemia, and deteriorating mental health, according to a new analysis by the Lancet Commission. Drawing on data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease study, the Commission warns that without urgent policy, political commitment, and investment, these issues will become even more severe, especially in countries already struggling with multiple health burdens.

A Sharp Rise in Anaemia, Obesity, and Mental Health Issues

The Commission projects that nearly one-third of adolescent girls globally will be anaemic by 2030. Additionally, 464 million adolescents (both boys and girls) are expected to be overweight or obese—143 million more than in 2015. Mental health issues among adolescents have been on the rise for three decades, a trend made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. This global mental health crisis among young people calls for urgent intervention and support systems.

India’s Burden: Anaemia, Nutrition, and Mental Health

India’s adolescent population is already experiencing significant health issues. The Commission used Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs)—a metric that measures the number of healthy years lost due to disease, disability, or premature death. Among girls aged 10–24 in India, the DALY rate for communicable, maternal, and nutritional conditions is 14,155 per 100,000, while for boys it is 12,310—both far above the target of fewer than 2,500 per 100,000.

Nutritional deficiencies remain a critical concern. For adolescent girls, the DALY rate due to nutrition is 1,358 per 100,000, compared to 370.9 per 100,000 for boys. Alarmingly, 52% of girls and 20.8% of boys in this age group are anaemic—far exceeding the target of less than 10%.

Adding to the concern, 43% of Indian girls aged 15–24 are “Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET),” a statistic that reflects not only disengagement from the workforce but also potential long-term health and socio-economic risks. Mental health challenges are also evident, with a DALY rate of 2,738 per 100,000 in girls due to mental illness and self-harm.

Some Policy Wins Offer Hope

Despite these challenges, there have been notable policy achievements. Professor Sarah Baird, co-chair of the Commission, commended India for scrapping outdated penal codes against consensual same-sex relationships and integrating adolescent health into medical education. She also highlighted India's effective efforts in reducing teenage pregnancies, noting that the country serves as a model in this area.

Emerging Threats: Climate Change and the Digital World

The report also flags new global threats to adolescent health. Climate change, in particular, poses a significant risk. Today’s adolescents will live their entire lives in a world with average annual temperatures at least 0.5°C higher than pre-industrial levels. By 2100, this could rise to 2.8°C, bringing increased heat-related illnesses, food and water insecurity, and climate-induced mental health stress.