A government study of youth behavior finds that South Dakota teenagers are good about finding work and getting their flu shots, but they often bully others, forget to buckle up in the car and don't eat enough fruits and vegetables.
South Dakota finished last in those three areas in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey coordinated by the state Health Department and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"I am not surprised about the fruits and vegetables, but I thought we were nice to each other," South Dakota Epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger told the Argus Leader newspaper. "I'm at a loss to interpret it."
Workers conducted phone interviews with more than 5,000 teens from 25 South Dakota high schools late last year and reported the results last week. The study found that South Dakota teens do well on college entrance exams, are among the best at finding summer jobs and are from families near the top in volunteering, charity work and getting their flu shots.
