America’s Children Face a Growing Health Crisis, New Study Warns
By Healthy Child Editorial Team
Published October 2025
Source: UCLA Health News Release (July 7, 2025)
Original article: UCLA Health – “New research reveals alarming decline in U.S. children’s health”
A Seventeen-Year Decline in Nearly Every Health Indicator
According to new peer-reviewed research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the overall health of children and adolescents in the United States has declined sharply over the past 17 years. The study—led by Dr. Christopher Forrest of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Dr. Neal Halfon of UCLA—analyzed the health records of more than two million children nationwide.
The findings reveal significant increases in childhood mortality, chronic disease, obesity, and mental health disorders, suggesting deep-rooted systemic issues affecting today’s youth.
“This study confirms what many pediatricians, educators, and parents have been sensing for years—that our children are facing a growing health crisis,” said Dr. Halfon, director of the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families & Communities. “The breadth and consistency of these declines across physical, mental, and developmental health indicators demand urgent national attention.”
Key Findings from the JAMA Study
The study, titled “Trends in U.S. Children’s Mortality, Chronic Conditions, Obesity, Functional Status, and Symptoms,” evaluated 172 health indicators from 2007 to 2022. The results are concerning:
Child Mortality: U.S. children and teens were nearly twice as likely to die as their peers in 18 other high-income countries. Firearm injuries, car crashes, and infant deaths due to prematurity or sudden unexpected infant death were leading causes.
Chronic Conditions: Among children ages 3–17, chronic illness rose from 39.9% to 45.7% in pediatric systems and from 25.8% to 31.0% in the general population.
Mental Health: Diagnoses of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders more than tripled. Many children also reported fatigue, pain, loneliness, and sadness.
Childhood Obesity: Increased from 17.0% to 20.9%, reflecting both lifestyle and dietary shifts.
Early Puberty: Early onset of menstruation rose by more than 60%, an indicator often linked to environmental and nutritional influences.
Sleep and Development: More children reported difficulty sleeping, which can compound mental and physical health struggles.
Why It Matters for Families
While statistics can seem distant, these numbers reflect real children—our sons, daughters, students, and neighbors. A decline this widespread signals that the nation’s developmental environment has become increasingly strained.
The authors point to social, economic, and environmental contributors as key drivers behind the trend. These include changes in diet, reduced outdoor activity, digital overexposure, family stress, and limited access to preventive healthcare.
At Healthy Child, we believe these findings highlight the urgent need to rebuild the foundations of child wellness—through nutrition, family connection, faith, outdoor play, and community-based health education.
A Call for National and Local Action
The researchers urge policymakers and professionals to respond with a coordinated national plan that prioritizes child wellness from birth through adolescence. However, many of the most meaningful changes can start at home and in local communities—through healthier daily routines, balanced nutrition, emotional support, and early prevention.
As the study’s authors write, the goal must be to rebuild “the developmental ecosystem” that supports children’s lifelong health and well-being.
Reference
Forrest, C. B., Koenigsberg, L. J., Harvey, F. E., Maltenfort, M. G., & Halfon, N. (2025). Trends in U.S. Children’s Mortality, Chronic Conditions, Obesity, Functional Status, and Symptoms. JAMA, published online July 7, 2025. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.9855
Original source: UCLA Health News Release
