Literacy or Useless Knowledge? Associations Between Health Literacy and Lifestyle Among Adolescents

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Health literacy plays a fundamental role in adolescents' health-related decisions and behaviors. The aim of our study was to assess the level of health literacy among 16-17-year-old students in Southern Hungary and to examine the associations between sociodemographic characteristics and health behaviors. <b>Methods:</b> This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted in the autumn of 2024 in Baranya and Somogy counties. A total of 133 students completed a self-administered questionnaire including sociodemographic variables and health behaviors. Health literacy was measured using the validated HELMA-H instrument. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests, <i>t</i>-tests, and ANOVA (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Results:</b> Overall, 62.7% of the students demonstrated adequate, while 37.3% demonstrated inadequate levels of health literacy. No significant association was found between overall health literacy and sociodemographic variables; however, partial associations were observed on specific subscales. Boys reported better access to health information (<i>p</i> = 0.037), while children of mothers with higher educational attainment scored better in comprehension (<i>p</i> = 0.042) and appraisal (<i>p</i> = 0.036). In the case of the numeracy subscale, children of mothers with the lowest educational level showed significantly better results (<i>p</i> = 0.006). Students with higher health literacy levels were less likely to smoke or consume caffeine; however, a reverse trend was observed regarding alcohol consumption. Physical activity showed a positive association with healthier behaviors (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Discussion:</b> The use of digital technologies, interactive learning strategies, and the involvement of family members-especially mothers-may support the development of health-conscious decision-making in adolescents. Consequently, health education programs should focus not only on knowledge transfer but also on fostering critical thinking and decision-making skills.