The Kids are Alright

American high school students today take significantly fewer health risks than did their counterparts in the early 1990s, although they do slightly worse in terms of obesity, asthma, exercise, and sunscreen use. That’s according to a new CDC report on youth risk behavior. Also: today’s teens are more likely to wear helmets and seat belts, and are less prone toward risky sex, suicide, drinking, and smoking. The share of 9th- to 12th-graders who have ever smoked cigarettes, for instance, has fallen from 70.1 percent in 1991 to 46.3 percent in 2009. The report also shows declines in violence and weapons use among teens since 1991. [%comments]