Teenagers are in kind of a weird spot when it comes to our health. We’re old enough to make a lot of our own choices but still don’t have complete control over our health care.

Most teenagers aren’t choosing their health insurance, picking their doctor, or deciding what their family can afford. But at the same time, the habits we start now can stick with us for a while. That made me think about whether teenagers actually learn enough about the health decisions we can control.

We hear all the time that we should eat healthy and exercise, but there’s a lot more to staying healthy than that. Things like getting enough sleep, wearing sunscreen, getting vaccinated, taking care of injuries, not smoking or drinking, paying attention to our mental health, and even knowing our family health history can make a big difference. Obviously, no teenager is going to do all of those things perfectly. I definitely don’t. But I think understanding why they matter is a good place to start.

One thing I’ve learned from reading about public health is that preventing health problems usually isn’t about making one huge decision. A lot of the time, it’s the small choices we make over and over again throughout our lives. It’s also about the environment we’re in.

That’s why I don’t think it’s enough to just tell teenagers to “make good choices.” Those choices have to be realistic. If a student has hours of homework every night, getting enough sleep is going to be harder. If someone lives in a neighborhood where they don’t feel safe, telling them to exercise more isn’t very helpful. And if healthier food costs more than a family can afford, that’s not something a teenager can fix.

Teen health is definitely about the choices we make, but it’s not only about our choices. It’s also about creating homes, schools, sports teams, and communities that make it easier for teenagers to make healthier decisions in the first place.