[In-Depth Look] Child and Adolescent Health Is Our Future

Aging and population decline threaten the nation's future. The number of births remained above one million until 1971 but has continuously decreased since then, reaching only 272,337 in 2020. The total population also began to decline after 51,836,000 in 2020, and it is predicted to decrease to 33,714,000 by 2070. The proportion of the population aged 65 and over is expected to rise from 15.7% in 2020 to 41.9% in 2050. In contrast, the proportion of the school-age population (6?21 years old) is predicted to sharply drop from 24.2% (11,383,000) in 2000 to 14.7% (7,638,000) in 2021, and further down to 10.6% (5,073,000) in 2050.

Population decline inevitably leads to a decrease in national competitiveness, and overcoming this requires improving the qualitative level of the population. Each individual must be able to maximize their potential to contribute not only to their own happiness but also to the development of the nation and society. The most fundamental prerequisite for this is ensuring health and safety. Without health and safety, no human ability can be properly demonstrated. The World Health Organization has defined health not as an end in itself but as the most important resource necessary for living.

The health of adolescents greatly influences lifelong health. Lifestyle habits that cause chronic diseases, the most important factor determining adult health levels, can be established during this period, and mental and social health are also significantly affected by childhood. Schools, where adolescents spend most of their daily time, along with families, are the most important living environments influencing health. Education on health and safety is provided, and healthy eating habits and physical activities are directly experienced. Additionally, relationships with teachers and friends provide the foundation for mental and social health. Accordingly, the Ministry of Education established a Basic Plan for Student Health Promotion in 2019 in cooperation with other ministries.

However, due to restrictions on in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, it is presumed that adolescents have suffered not only academically but also in terms of health. The steadily increasing adolescent obesity rate likely worsened due to limited physical activity, lack of exercise, and irregular eating habits. Psychological stress caused by restrictions on daily life and fear of disease, social deficits from limited school life and peer relationships, and decreased academic achievement are already manifesting as immediate realities. These side effects are likely to impact lifelong health. With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, students’ learning deficits as well as worsening mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress have raised the need for psychological and emotional recovery measures targeting high-risk mental health groups.

Despite nationwide efforts to increase birth rates, skepticism remains about the effectiveness relative to the investments made. On the other hand, it is questionable how much effort has been devoted to promoting the health of children and adolescents who are already born and growing up. If we are concerned about the nation's future 20 to 30 years from now, health and safety issues of children and adolescents should be prioritized alongside efforts to raise birth rates. Therefore, it is an urgent time for the Ministry of Education, which oversees social ministries, to strengthen systems and expand financial investment based on scientific analysis and effectiveness predictions of the causes and solutions to health problems faced by students, in cooperation with related ministries.

Professor Park Soon-woo, Department of Preventive Medicine, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine