YCteen publishes true stories by teens, giving readers insight into the issues that matter most in young people's lives.
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Health (97 found)
Note: These stories are from YCteen and its sister publication, Represent, which is written by and for youth in foster care.
The author feels intense pressure, so she begins taking pills that help her study. The drugs change her into someone she doesn't recognize. (full text)
Elisabet thinks an ad campaign to combat teen pregnancy perpetuates negative stereotypes. (full text)
Peter’s friends tease him for being short and slightly pudgy. He wants to let them know that their words hurt, but worries that speaking up will drive them away. (full text)
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, but few teens know its risks—including its link to certain cancers. (full text)
Juana reports on the growing obesity epidemic among young people, and wonders who is responsible for reversing the trend. (full text)
The author believes she experienced a healing miracle and vows to no longer take life for granted. (full text)
Isaura is frustrated that her mom doesn’t take better care of herself to prevent her diabetes from getting worse. (full text)
Marci tries to be supportive when Deborah is hospitalized for anorexia, but gets the cold shoulder. As their friendship falters, Marci attempts once more to repair the friendship, this time with better results. (full text)
Jhanae wants to be the skinniest girl on the track team, but the results of her extreme diet are more dramatic—and embarrassing—than she expects. (full text)
Luis attempts to diet, but his mom's dismissive attitude and delicious cooking make it difficult. Eventually, he finds the support he needs to get healthy. (full text)
Hidden hazards in your home could trigger an asthma attack. Find out how to clean up indoor air. (full text)
Chemicals in your shampoo, lotion, deodorant, and even hand sanitizer could be doing more harm than good. (full text)
Teens Turning Green, an environmental organization, warns shoppers not to buy products with certain chemical ingredients. (full text)
Check out our guide to better understand some of the technical language in this issue. (full text)
Carmen loves fast food—until she reads Chew On This, a book about the dark side of the industry. (full text)
Antwaun becomes dependent on drinking and smoking weed to deal with painful emotions, but gradually finds ways to deal with life without being high. (full text)
The writer lives in a poor neighborhood where junk food predominates. (full text)
Confined to a wheelchair by a genetic disease, Tania faces many challenges but emerges stronger in spirit. (full text)
When Antwaun balloons up to 291 pounds, he knows it’s time to change his ways. (full text)
Edwin smokes his first cigarette at 12 and becomes addicted. Now he can’t go a day without smoking. (full text)
Priscilla remembers her father as an "awesome guy." They went to ball games, made model airplanes, and cooked together. That's why she misses him so much. He couldn't kick the cigarette habit and died of lung cancer when she was 9. (full text)
Four relatives who live with Trenee are smokers, and she's sick and tired of smelling like an ashtray whenever she leaves the house. Her father continually warns Trenee never to smoke, but he's got nothing to worry about. (full text)
The writer starts throwing up her food to lose weight, but stops when a friend is hospitalized for bulimia. (full text)
It's a month before Allison's big bash, and her skin has suddenly erupted in itchy red spots that won't go away.
Diagnosed with arthritis, Chantel keeps a brave front but struggles inwardly to accept her condition. Eventually, looking beyond herself transforms her attitude.
After her beloved Aunt Euphita is seriously injured in a car accident, Annmarie helps support her through a painful recovery. Along the way, she develops a new appreciation for family.
Horrified by how animals are treated after watching a video on slaughterhouse practices, Suzy tries to become a vegetarian.
A look at the difference between highly processed food and healthy alternatives.
A former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, explains that most packaged and restaurant food contains sugar, fat, and salt to get us hooked.
Six teens keep food diaries and are surprised at what they learn. A nutritionist evaluates the diaries and suggest ways to eat healthier.
Although teens have plenty of information about STDs and safe sex, they still take risks. Orubba interviews an expert to find out why.
Viveca has asthma and fears an attack. She isolates herself from peers, until she realizes she’s making her situation worse.
Donald is self-conscious about being tongue-tied. But when he has an operation to correct the condition, his life isn’t drastically changed.
Gamal interviews an expert on stuttering to find out what causes it and whether it can be cured.
Gamal, 20, has stuttered since he was 5. He learns some techniques for overcoming his stutter, but has a hard time sticking to them.
Natalie interviews an asthma expert about the causes of the disease and what can be done about it.
A program at a youth organization teaches teens about health and nutrition, alternatives to junk food and fast food, and helps them master basic cooking techniques.
Striving to look like the skinny girls in her school, the writer embarks on dangerous periods of restricting her food.
Adam takes a look at why so many young people are still getting infected with HIV.
The writer's best friend contracts chlamydia, which causes the writer to postpone having sex for fear of the consequences.
When the writer’s father is diagnosed as HIV-positive, she is in shock: how could it happen to someone in the family?
Shavone takes up strenuous physical exercise to lose weight and be accepted by her peers.
Lenny falls for a girl and continues to pursue her until they have sex. He doesn't use a condom, however, and when the girl is hospitalized for pelvic inflammatory disease and Lenny tests positive for gonorrhea and chlamydia, unprotected sex quickly loses its appeal.
After contracting chlamydia for the second time, the writer resolves to start protecting herself.
Mimi interviews males and females, ages 14-22, to find out their excuses for not using condoms (and counters them with the cold, hard facts).
She's a little nervous at first, but a tour of Planned Parenthood eases her anxieties, and Madeleine is glad she has her first GYN exam. She learns a lot about her body and how to keep it healthy.
The writer decides to get an HIV test after learning that the virus can be transmitted through oral sex and that you may not know you have it.
When Nicolle’s mother suffers a stroke, Nicolle is gripped by the fear of losing her.
Yamina, 16, sneaks her first cigarette when she's 12 and within two years is up to three packs a day. Cigarettes keep her sane and calm, but she can't catch her breath during volleyball and is broke from the expense, so she cuts down to half a pack and hopes to quit for good.
A friend introduces the writer to cocaine. Within two months she’s doing drugs several times a day. A year after quitting she’s still suffering the consequences.
Adrian starts smoking in the 10th grade, quickly becomes addicted, but is able to quit the habit.
The writer's uncle is a married bisexual who contracts HIV, but no one in the family talks about his sexuality or his illness until after he dies from AIDS.
A therapist describes the causes of stress, how it affects the body, and what teens can do to relieve it.
Former foster youth can keep their Medicaid coverage up to age 26 now; here are some things to know about keeping or regaining your insurance. (full text)
Yeashea Braddock of Brooklyn Young Mothers Collective gives tips on caring for infants, babies, and toddlers. (full text)
A recent study showed a high rate of foster kids being prescribed powerful antipsychotic drugs; a new congressional group is investigating. (full text)
Shawn is sick, but a trip to the doctor doesn't help. Jasmine encourages him to go back to the clinic and advocate for himself.
Chimore takes a cooking class at a Whole Foods supermarket and learns that cooking healthy is not as hard as it seems. (full text)
Tips on eating a balanced and healthy home-cooked meal (full text)
Quaneyah reflects on how unhealthy eating habits get started—and reinforced. (full text)
Jennifer lacks control in many areas of her life, which hits home when she is drugged against her will in a hospital. She then takes more control—for better and worse. (full text)
Kamaal decides to stop eating meat and faces surprising resistance from his foster family and some friends. (full text)
Trying to keep up with older kids, Shantae drinks too much brandy and suffers severe alcohol poisoning. (full text)
Two therapists with drug treatment experience explain how drugs and alcohol distort the brain's natural functioning. (full text)
Dr. John DiLallo gives teens tips on how to talk to their doctors about medication they don't want to take. (full text)
An overview of overmedication of youth across the United States, including a recent push by the federal government to investigate states' monitoring of prescription policies. (full text)
The Newborn Home Visiting Program sends health professionals to the homes of new mothers to provide information about caring for an infant. A nurse from the program talks about how to properly feed and care for babies.
La’Quesha profiles the Nurse-Family Partnership, a program that helps support new moms.
Madeleine gives a clear, comprehensive, and reassuring explanation of what happens during a GYN exam.
Hattie takes a workshop on healthy cooking, and has mixed results when she tries the techniques at home.
Erica grew up using food to calm herself, but feels stronger when she gets her eating habits under control.
Nakese explains how your body releases feel-good chemicals when you work out.
The writer describes his shock and fear at testing positive for HIV, but gradually comes to terms with how the disease has changed his life.
A therapist describes the pros and cons of anti-depressant medication.
The writer gets addicted to the blissful highs of the drug ecstasy, until the devastating lows of crashing force her to cut back.
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