There have been improvements in alcohol and tobacco use, and soft drink consumption, but persistently low fruit intake and ‘surging’ obesity rates, a study of multiple generations of young people has found.

The authors say the trends seen can help to tailor public health interventions, reduce health inequalities and improve the overall health and wellbeing of the preconception population.
‘Optimising preconception health in women and men holds significant potential for improving pregnancy and offspring health outcomes.’
The researchers examined health behaviours and indicators across adolescence and young adulthood in three cohorts in the UK. Each were born around 10 years apart.
Up to 17,198 people born in 1970 were included in the study, with up to 15,770 people born in 1989 to 1990, and up to 19,517 people born in 2000 to 2002. The data was collected when people were aged 16/17 and 25/26. Trends for several key health indicators important for pregnancy health, such as cervical screening and mental health conditions, were not possible to identify across all cohorts.
Concluding on their findings, the authors said: ‘These behaviours have important transgenerational health implications, highlighting the urgent need for public health interventions that target the root causes of health behaviours.’
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