U.S. Children's Health Decline Over Two Decades, Report Shows
The health of American children has shown a concerning decline over the past 17 years, according to a recent study that analysed data from 2007 to 2023. The findings highlight significant negative trends in various indicators, including obesity, chronic diseases, and mental health issues.
One of the most alarming trends is the rise in childhood obesity. In 2007-2008, the obesity rate among children aged 2-19 years old was 17%, which increased to about 21% from 2021-2023. This upward trend continued, with obesity prevalence reaching 20.9% by the end of the study period.
The prevalence of chronic conditions among children also increased significantly. By the end of the study, nearly half of children in pediatric health systems were experiencing chronic conditions. In the general population, chronic conditions rose from 25.8% to 31.0%.
Mental health issues have also become more prevalent. Diagnoses of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders more than tripled in some cases, while children experienced increased symptoms of loneliness, sadness, and trouble sleeping.
The study also found that U.S. children were nearly twice as likely to die as their peers in other high-income countries. Leading causes of death included firearm injuries, motor vehicle crashes, and infant deaths due to prematurity and sudden unexpected infant death.
Other health indicators, such as early onset menstruation, limitations in activity, and increased physical symptoms like fatigue and pain, also showed an increase during the study period.
Dr. Forrest, the study's author, believes that the risks highlighted by the study, such as eating too much ultra-processed food, are real but miss the complex reality driving trends in children's health. He suggests examining the ecosystem that kids are growing up in, starting on a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood, city-by-city basis.
The study was conducted at a time that is "completely fortuitous" for the 2024 presidential election. The editorial published alongside the study criticises the administration's MAHA movement for pursuing policies that may work against the interests of children.
Dr. James Perrin, a pediatrician and spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics, noted that the datasets analysed have some limitations. However, he emphasised the need for urgent attention and policy changes to address the health issues facing U.S. children.
The health of U.S. children is a critical issue that requires immediate attention. The rising rates of obesity, chronic diseases, and mental health problems among American children indicate a need for policy changes to promote healthier lifestyles and preventable health measures.
[1] Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM. Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2017-2020. JAMA. 2020;324(15):1502–1504. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.15385
[2] The State of Child Health in the U.S. 2023. American Academy of Pediatrics. 2023.
[3] The State of Child Health in the U.S. 2021. American Academy of Pediatrics. 2021.
- The increase in childhood obesity is a significant concern, with the obesity rate among children aged 2-19 years old rising from 17% in 2007-2008 to about 21% from 2021-2023.
- Chronic conditions have risen significantly among children, with nearly half of children in pediatric health systems experiencing chronic conditions by the end of the study period.
- Mental health issues have become more prevalent, with diagnoses of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders more than tripling in some cases.
- The study emphasizes the need for urgent policy changes, as U.S. children are nearly twice as likely to die as their peers in other high-income countries, with leading causes of death including firearm injuries, motor vehicle crashes, and infant deaths due to prematurity and sudden unexpected infant death. Additionally, other health indicators, such as early onset menstruation, limitations in activity, and increased physical symptoms like fatigue and pain, also showed an increase during the study period.
