Study: Children’s Health Declining in U.S.

July 30, 2025

In a new study by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, researchers found that the health of American children was declining across several key indicators, including increased chronic illnesses, higher rates of physical and mental health conditions and related symptoms, and increased mortality rates compared with other countries.

Addressing these issues will require a change in mindset about supporting and prioritizing the health of children, according to researchers.

“In the course of conducting this study, there wasn’t a single statistic that was startling, but instead comprehensive data over several years including millions of children all pointed to the same trends, which was an overall decline in the health of children and youth,” said senior study author Christopher B. Forrest, MD, PhD, a professor of pediatrics at CHOP and director of the Applied Clinical Research Center and PEDSnet.

Here are a some key takeaways:

• By the numbers:  Data was utilized from five nationally representative surveys, national mortality statistics, and a large database of pediatric electronic health records to assess changes in children’s health from 2007–2023. The study looked at more than 170 children’s health indicators, including chronic physical, developmental, and mental health disorders; mortality; obesity; functional impairments; and physical and emotional symptoms.
• Troubling statistics:  The study found that from 2007–2022, the death rate for infants was 1.78 times higher, and in children between 1- and 19-years-old 1.80 times higher, in the U.S. compared with 18 comparable high-income nations. Prematurity and sudden, unexpected infant death accounted for the widest disparities in infants and firearm-related incidents and motor vehicle crashes led to the widest disparities among other children.
• Chronic conditions contributing:  From 2011–2023, the prevalence of 3- to 17-year-old children with a chronic condition rose from 39.9 percent to 45.7 percent within the PEDSnet cohort of 10 pediatric medical centers and from 25.8 percent to 31 percent within the general population. Additionally, rates of obesity, early onset of menstruation, trouble sleeping, limitations in activity, physical symptoms, depressive symptoms, and loneliness all increased during the study period.
• Zoom out:  Researchers recommended taking a broad approach when addressing the root causes. Fostering relationships and social systems that support children, particularly those in low-income and marginalized communities, needs to be prioritized and supported with more high-quality early childhood education, better family support, safer neighborhoods, and culturally attuned care, according to the study.
• Quotable:  “Children are naturally resilient and adaptive,” Forrest said. “If we can improve the ecosystems that surround them and meet the challenges we identified in this study, we can lay the foundation for a healthier future for our nation’s youth.”

Read the study online.