Our future: a Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing

Executive Summary

The largest generation of adolescents and young people in human history (1·8 billion) demands more attention and action. Adolescents and young adults face unprecedented social, economic, and cultural change. The Lancet is dedicated to creating discussion around this critical topic by publishing the best research to lead to better lives for all. Adolescence is generally thought to be the healthiest time of life, and young people have therefore attracted little interest and too few resources. The 2016 Lancet Commission concluded that investing in adolescents will yield a triple benefit—today, into adulthood, and the next generation of children.

The latest Health Policy paper shows that investments in adolescent health and wellbeing are some of the best that can be made, resulting in a 10-fold economic benefit, and are vital for the progress towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Investments in adolescent health and wellbeing will not only transform the lives of girls and boys around the world, but will also generate high economic returns, especially in low income countries. The costs of inaction are too great to ignore.

This report outlines how investments in adolescent health and wellbeing are key to economic development and world progress towards the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.