The health of American children has steadily declined over the past 17 years, with rising rates of obesity, chronic illnesses, and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, a study published in the JAMA Network reveals.
Researchers analysed 170 health indicators from eight national datasets. The study found that US children were 1.8 times more likely to die than their peers in other high-income countries, largely due to higher rates of premature birth, sudden unexpected infant deaths, firearm-related injuries, and motor vehicle accidents.
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The findings also show that childhood obesity rose from 17% in 2007–2008 to about 21% in 2021–2023. The likelihood of having chronic conditions such as anxiety, depression, or sleep apnoea increased by 15% to 20% between 2011 and 2023. Diagnosed chronic illnesses climbed from 40% to approximately 46% in the same period.
The team also found that the kids experienced early onset of menstruation, sleep disturbances, physical limitations, depressive symptoms, and feelings of loneliness. “What’s alarming isn’t a single statistic—it’s the consistency across all sources showing a generalised decline,” said Dr. Christopher Forrest, a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and co-author of the study.
The study comes just months after US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) report, which emphasised concerns about poor nutrition, overmedication, and inactivity among children. While some experts say the MAHA initiative correctly identifies serious risk factors, they warn that policy actions, such as federal budget cuts to public health, maternal care, and injury prevention, may further undermine child health.
Experts urge a holistic, neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood approach to rebuilding healthier ecosystems for children, addressing everything from ultra-processed diets to rising mental health needs and violence exposure.
