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.