A new study published in JAMA reveals a significant decline in the health of children in the United States over the past 17 years. Led by Christopher Forrest from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Dr. Neal Halfon from UCLA, the research analyzed data from national surveys, mortality statistics, and electronic health records from over two million children. The study found that U.S. children and teens were nearly twice as likely to die as their peers in 18 other high-income countries between 2007 and 2022, with leading causes of death including firearm injuries, motor vehicle crashes, and infant deaths due to prematurity and sudden unexpected infant death.
Chronic conditions among children aged three to 17 increased from 39.9% to 45.7% in pediatric health systems, and from 25.8% to 31.0% in the general population. Diagnoses of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders more than tripled, and childhood obesity rose from 17.0% to 20.9%. The study also noted an increase in early onset of menstruation, sleep troubles, and feelings of loneliness and sadness.
Dr. Forrest emphasized the need for a national reckoning with the systemic factors driving these trends, including social, economic, and environmental contributors. The study calls for a coordinated response to rebuild the developmental ecosystem crucial for healthy child development.