Despite all the recent reports of how smartphones are damaging our youngsters' health, it turns out children are taking up healthier habits and dropping unhealthy ones.
Parents rejoice: Irish children are drinking and smoking cannabis and tobacco less than teenagers their age 20 years ago.
According to a new report, eight per cent of Irish children aged 10-17 said they were smoking in 2014, compared to 23 per cent in 1998.
The report, called the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Ireland Trends Report 1998-2014 (HBSC), looked at survey data from children who admitted to drinking and smoking.
The study was carried out by Professor Saoirse Nic Gabhainn and her team at the Health Promotion Research Centre in NUI Galway, and analysed data on almost 5,000 students aged 10-17.
When it came to drinking, it found that 21 reported that they had been drunk before, in 2014, compared to 33 per cent in 1998.
Eight per cent also admitted to smoking cannabis, compared to 12 per cent in 1998.
Even better, children today are more likely to report that their health is 'excellent' in comparison to 20 years ago. 34 per cent of children reported that their health was 'excellent' compared to the 28 per cent of kids in 1998.
Commenting on the report, Minister of State for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy said: "We know that lifestyle patterns are established at an early age. We also know that chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiac disease, can develop as a result of lifestyle choices.
"Having detailed information about the lifestyle choices of our children is hugely significant for the choices we make as a country on the future direction of our national health policy."
Professor Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, from NUI Galway, said: "This report is the culmination of many years of work, and brings some good news about the health behaviours of children in Ireland over the years, with the sustained decrease in smoking and in alcohol use for example."
