Tufton urges action on Jamaica’s student health survey findings

Jamaica’s health minister, Christopher Tufton, has urged the country to take seriously the findings of its latest survey on adolescent health. He said the data should guide policies and programmes aimed at improving young people’s health and well-being.

The 2026 Global School-based Student Health Survey involved 3,058 students in grades seven to 12. It marked the third assessment in Jamaica, following surveys conducted in 2010 and 2017. Every selected school took part, while 76 per cent of students responded.

The survey examined diet, substance use, physical activity, sexual behaviour, violence, injuries and other factors affecting adolescents. Tufton highlighted dietary habits and weight status as particular concerns. He said 41.3 per cent of students reported eating no fruit during the seven days before the survey, while only 27.5 per cent said they ate vegetables at least once a day.

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We intend to mine the data and interpret it and use it to create better policies for better health and wellness in our population.

The findings also showed increases in underweight, overweight and obesity compared with earlier surveys. In 2026, 3.4 per cent of students were classified as underweight, 31.7 per cent as overweight and 15.3 per cent as obese.

Tufton said the government intended to examine and interpret the data before using it to develop better health policies. He pointed to the School Nutrition Policy, which seeks to provide safe and nutritious food in early-childhood, primary, secondary and special education institutions, and described it as a potential game-changer for Jamaican children’s nutrition.

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Game-changer