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21h ago

JAMA Study Finds U.S. Child Health Decline, From Higher Mortality to Rising Chronic Illness

Rising mortality rates alongside increasing chronic conditions among American youth signal the need for community-driven health reforms

FILE - Children run on the lawn at the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Mo., on April 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Girl works at a computer and eats fast food.
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Overview

  • Infant mortality in the United States is 78% higher than in other high-income nations, and children aged 1–19 face an 80% greater risk of death, driven largely by prematurity, firearm incidents and accidents.
  • The share of U.S. children diagnosed with at least one chronic condition rose from about 40% in 2011 to 46% in 2023, reflecting increases in mental health, developmental and respiratory disorders.
  • Childhood obesity climbed from roughly 17% in 2007–2008 to 21% in 2021–2023, a trend linked to one in seven girls experiencing menstruation before age 12.
  • Indicators of emotional and functional wellbeing—including depressive symptoms, loneliness, sleep disturbances and activity limitations—worsened markedly over the 17-year study period.
  • Experts attribute the declines to systemic issues such as socioeconomic inequality and aggressive junk food marketing, urging integrated policy and community-based interventions.