Survey Reveals Behaviors in Minnesota Students

The Minnesota Department of Health released the results of the 2016 Minnesota Student Survey. The anonymous survey is conducted every three years and gives insight on the experiences of Minnesota’s  young people. Almost 170,000 students in public schools and 85 percent of Minnesota districts participated in the survey.

Key findings focused on the use of tobacco, indoor tanning and mental and healthy weight.

There has been a decrease in tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars. Among the 11th-graders, more than 17 percent use electronic cigarettes or vaping devices. These products have emerged as a major health concern.

After the ban on sunbeds and tanning booths by persons under the age of 18, indoor tanning has decreased from 33 percent in 2013 to nearly 9 percent in 2016.

The obesity rate is higher in females than in males.

Participants are voluntary fifth, eighth, ninth and 11th-grade students.