Low participation in medical trials puts millions of young people at risk

Experts said the lack of young people participating in research would have a serious impact on their physical and mental health for decade. Photograph: Westend61/Getty Images

Millions of young people risk missing out on new treatments for health conditions and having to use medicines that are unsafe, ineffective or inappropriate because so few take part in medical research, experts have warned.

Data analysis by the Guardian reveals that members of gen Z – those born between the late 1990s and the early 2000s – are significantly underrepresented in clinical trials and health studies.