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3d 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.