Alarming Decline in U.S. Children's Health Over 17 Years: Study

A comprehensive study published on July 7, 2025, in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reveals a significant decline in the health of American children over the past 17 years. The research, led by Dr. Christopher Forrest of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, analyzed 172 health indicators using data from multiple national surveys, mortality statistics, and electronic health records from over 2 million children.

The study found that children aged 3 to 17 were 15-20% more likely to have a chronic health condition in 2023 compared to 2011. Additionally, the prevalence of obesity among children aged 2 to 19 increased from 17% in 2007-2008 to nearly 21% between 2021 and 2023. Diagnoses of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders more than tripled in some cases. Furthermore, U.S. children were nearly twice as likely to die compared to peers in 18 other high-income countries between 2007 and 2022, with leading causes including firearm injuries, motor vehicle crashes, and infant deaths due to prematurity and sudden unexpected infant death.

Dr. Forrest emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "To me, it's a huge wake-up call that we really are failing kids right now." Dr. Neal Halfon, a distinguished professor of pediatrics and director of the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families & Communities, added, "This study confirms what many pediatricians, educators, and parents have been sensing for years; that our children are facing a growing health crisis."

The study's publication coincides with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) report, which describes children as undernourished and overmedicated, raising concerns about their lack of physical activity. However, experts caution that current federal policies, including cuts to health programs and promotion of vaccine hesitancy, may exacerbate the crisis.

The findings reflect broader societal issues such as inadequate healthcare access, socioeconomic disparities, and environmental factors, suggesting a need for comprehensive policy interventions and community-based initiatives. The study serves as a critical call to action for policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities to collaboratively address the multifaceted factors contributing to the decline in children's health. Implementing evidence-based interventions and fostering supportive environments are essential steps toward reversing these troubling trends.