The health of U.S. kids has declined significantly since 2007, new study finds
Briefly

The health of children in the United States has deteriorated across multiple indicators since 2007, with a 15 to 20 percent increase in chronic conditions between 2011 and 2023. Common issues include rising rates of depression, anxiety, obesity, and developmental delays. Mortality rates for U.S. children have worsened, with a report indicating that from 2010 to 2023, American kids were 80% more likely to die compared to peers in high-income countries. This trend reflects a significant decline in overall child health over almost two decades, driven by factors such as sudden infant death and prematurity.
Forrest and his colleagues report that the health of America's children has significantly worsened across several key indicators since 2007, with children in 2023 being 15 to 20 percent more likely to have chronic conditions than in 2011.
The researchers consulted eight comprehensive data sets, including nationally representative surveys and millions of electronic pediatric health records, to analyze children's health trends.
From 2010 to 2023, kids in the United States were 80% more likely to die compared to children in other high-income countries, with mortality differences driven by issues such as sudden unexpected infant death.
Children's health in the United States has been declining for almost two decades, with increasing prevalence of chronic conditions like depression, anxiety, obesity, and developmental delays.
Read at www.npr.org
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