Rocketing sex infections in teenagers is health timebomb

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 30th Mar 2004

A report on the health of young people by the Office for National Statistics shows that sexually transmitted infections among teenagers have doubled between 1991 and 2001 and that 20 per cent of boys and 27 per cent of girls were overweight in 2000.

Commenting, Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, said:

"These figures are shocking. They reveal a public health timebomb. Sex infections and obesity levels amongst teenagers have rocketed, while Ministers have dithered and delayed.

"These figures are the tip of the iceberg, with many sexual infections going undetected. The safe sex message is just not getting through to today's teenagers. These young people should be given the information and the support they need to discuss sex and relationships and to understand the dangers they face".