Daijiworld Media Network - Sacramento

Sacramento, Jul 8: A sweeping new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has revealed a concerning decline in the health of U.S. children over the past two decades. The review, the most comprehensive of its kind in nearly 20 years, analyzed 170 health indicators using national data dating back to 2002.

“All of them point in the same direction: children's health is getting worse,” said lead author Christopher Forrest from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Among the key findings:
• Obesity rates among 2–19-year-olds rose from 17% (2007–2008) to 21% (2021–2023).
• Chronic health issues such as anxiety, depression, and sleep apnea increased from 40% of children in 2011 to 46% in 2023.
• A separate parent survey noted a 15–20% rise in chronic illness risk since 2011.
• Child mortality rates in the U.S. remain significantly higher than in other advanced economies, including Canada, Germany, and Japan.

The study highlights an urgent need for public health interventions and stronger policy efforts to reverse the trend.