Cypriot teenagers scored 57 out of 100 on mental wellbeing indicators, whilst 53% of girls and 34% of boys reported multiple health complaints more than once per week, according to a new EU health report.
The report reveals that more than half of Cypriot children do not consume any fruits or vegetables daily, with only 9% of girls meeting World Health Organization (WHO) physical activity guidelines.
However, Cypriot youth showed lower than EU average rates in smoking, alcohol consumption, and cannabis use, with smoking at 11% compared to the EU average of 17%, and cannabis use at 4% versus 7% EU-wide.
The European Commission’s latest EU health report highlights concerning trends in children’s wellbeing.
For Cyprus, the data shows 42% of 11-year-old girls and 63% of 15-year-old girls reported multiple weekly health complaints, while boys in both age groups reported 34%.
Physical activity levels showed marked gender disparities, with 23% of 15-year-old boys meeting WHO guidelines compared to just 9% of girls.
Nutrition data indicated 54% of Cypriot youth do not consume fruits or vegetables daily, matching concerning EU-wide trends.
The report noted that 25% of Cypriot children were classified as overweight or obese, with boys showing higher rates at 30% compared to girls at 20%.
The Commission emphasised that the 2022 data may reflect ongoing pandemic impacts, as restrictions were still in place and followed two years of strict COVID-19 measures.
