Great Britain tops the list of wealthy countries whose young people could die from asthma.
A study from the think tank Nuffield Trust and the Association for Young People's Health, recently analysed 17 measures of health and wellbeing for 10 to 24-year-olds in countries that included Australia, the US, Germany, France, Italy and Japan.
A total of 19 countries were analysed, including 14 European nations.
The research found that people in that age group were more likely to die from asthma than those from the other countries studied.
The asthma death rate was the highest in the UK.
The UK also had the highest obesity rates for 15 to 19-year-olds among all the European nations.
The report found that while young people in the UK were making some healthier choices than in the past, and were drinking and smoking less, more of them were becoming adults with long-term serious health conditions.
Almost one in five young Brits are living with conditions such as type 2 diabetes.
The statistics, especially for obesity, appear to be worse for young people from poor families.
The report states: "Despite living in the world's fifth largest economy, young people aged 20 to 24 in the UK are experiencing one of the highest rates of severe material deprivation among the countries in our international comparison.
"Reducing poverty among young people is key to improving their health outcomes in the UK."
