The disparities vary so much. It isn't one race or ethnic group that's always worse off.

Maybe this is a transitional period with no impact. Maybe these young people get married, cut back drinking, quit smoking and their diet improves. I can't wait to find out.

It's stunning. We looked at 20 areas, and 16 out of the 20 showed declines in health indicators.

What's surprising is to see the decline in health across such a large array of outcomes.

Our hypothesis is that young adults are more vulnerable to poor health practices than teenagers because they are leaving the more protective environments of home and school.

Diet got worse, people got less exercise, had less access to health care, there was a lower health insurance rate. Young adults drink more, smoke more cigarettes, use drugs.