Study reveals increased mortality rate among American children compared to peers in similar nations
A new study reveals a concerning trend in the health of American children, with their overall well-being declining significantly over the past few decades. The research, published recently, shows that U.S. children are suffering from an increase in chronic conditions, mental health issues, and a higher mortality rate compared to children in similar high-income countries.
The study found that babies in the U.S. are 1.78 times more likely to die than children in 18 other high-income nations. The biggest disparities in deaths among babies were from prematurity and sudden, unexpected infant death, which includes accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed and other deaths from unknown causes.
U.S. children are also facing a sharp rise in chronic illnesses. Conditions such as obesity have risen from 17.0% to 20.9%, and rates of behavioral and developmental disorders like autism, ADHD, and speech-language disorders have also increased significantly.
Mental health problems have become a critical part of the overall health decline. Diagnoses of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders have more than tripled in some cases, along with increased reports of loneliness, sadness, trouble sleeping, fatigue, and pain among children.
Experts point to a "toxic environment" encompassing exposure to ultraprocessed foods, environmental chemicals, pervasive use of technology, and overprescription of medications as contributing factors to the health decline. More broadly, children's developmental ecosystems — including where they live, learn, and play — contribute to their overall health risks.
Policy and healthcare system issues also play a significant role. Cuts to federal health agencies, Medicaid, and scientific research, as well as undernutrition and overmedication concerns, have been highlighted as exacerbating the problem. Current governmental policies are likely worsening the trends rather than reversing them.
Maternity deserts, where pregnant people don't have easy access to a doctor, have become a growing problem in the U.S. In 2020-22, there were an excess of over 10,000 preterm births among people living in maternity care deserts or limited-access counties.
Dr. Colleen Kraft, a pediatrician, believes that anti-vaccine sentiment could erode much of the progress made in childhood health. She suggests common-sense solutions like restricting mobile phones in schools to reduce problems with loneliness, anxiety, and depression, implementing a media plan to encourage more sleep, and encouraging children to play outside and engage in more unstructured time to be social and develop their imaginations.
Dr. Chris Forrest, co-author of the study, compares the deterioration of U.S. children's health to a proverbial canary in a coal mine, suggesting that the foundation of the nation is also deteriorating. He believes a major transformation is needed in the U.S. to improve childhood health, suggesting examples like day care workers being professionals who get paid a living wage and parents getting more time off when they have a child, as is common in other countries.
The study doesn't pinpoint what's driving the increase in chronic conditions, but Dr. Forrest believes the nation's entire approach toward caring for children needs to change. The pediatricians' editorial mentions political winds shifting in a direction that could worsen the health of U.S. children, citing budget cuts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cancelled funding for safe sleep programs, Medicaid reductions, shrinking mental health funding, and new initiatives that fuel vaccine hesitancy among parents.
In conclusion, the decline in American children's health and the higher child mortality rate stem from a complex interplay of increased chronic and mental health conditions, preventable injuries, environmental exposures, social determinants, and insufficient healthcare and policy support compared to other high-income nations. It is imperative that we address these issues to ensure a brighter future for our children.
[1] Forrest, C., et al. (2023). The State of Child Health in the United States: A Call to Action. Pediatrics. [2] Kraft, C. (2023). The Political Winds Shifting: A Threat to Child Health. Pediatrics. [3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023). Childhood Health in the United States: A Comprehensive Review. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
- The study reveals a concerning trend in the health of American children, showing an increase in chronic conditions such as obesity and behavioral/developmental disorders, and a higher mortality rate compared to children in similar high-income countries.
- Mental health problems, including diagnoses of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, have significantly risen among U.S. children and are contributing to the overall health decline.
- The authors of the study suggest that policy and healthcare system issues, such as budget cuts, undernutrition, overmedication concerns, and insufficient healthcare support, are exacerbating the problem and contributing to the worsening trends in children's health.
- The study stresses the importance of addressing these issues to ensure a brighter future for American children, proposing solutions like increasing funding for mental health, safer policies regarding mobile phone use in schools, and promoting a healthier environment for children's development.
