Alarm for the superpower. The latest report is shocking, leaving experts helpless.
"The most frustrating thing is that many of these health problems could have been prevented," says Professor Chris Forrest, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and one of the lead authors of the report published in the medical journal JAMA. "And we should all be shocked by this."
As recently as the 1960s, American children were sick and dying at rates similar to those of their peers in countries with similar income levels. This began to change in the 1970s, and over the next few decades, the situation only worsened.
" This means that the same children born in the United States are at greater risk of death than those born in Germany or Denmark . How could this have happened?" warns Professor Forrest.
According to the latest data, between 2007 and 2022 , American children aged 1-19 were nearly twice as likely to die as those in other wealthy countries . The greatest disparities, not surprisingly, were observed among deaths caused by firearms and motor vehicle accidents. Children in the US are fifteen times more likely to die from firearms, and twice as likely to die from accidents .
But it's not just about accidents and the widespread availability of firearms in the US. The report warns that American children are also more likely to be ill. Chronic illnesses are a major factor . As Professor Forrest points out in an interview with CNN, in the 1990s, when he began his career as a pediatrician, only one child came to him with such a condition. Today, almost one in two suffers from it.
An analysis of data from 10 pediatric healthcare systems in the US found that 15 to 20 percent of children were more likely to suffer from a chronic disease in 2023 than in 2011. Only the prevalence of asthma has improved. However, obesity and diabetes are on the rise , which can lead to hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the long term.
American children are much more likely to experience mental disorders such as:
- depression,
- anxiety disorders, and
- loneliness causing mental suffering.
The number of cases has also increased:
- autism,
- developmental disorders,
- speech disorders, and
- ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
What are the reasons for this? A recently released report by President Trump's administration highlights:
- highly processed foods that are harmful to health,
- exposure to environmental chemical pollutants,
- the widespread use of new technologies such as smartphones, and
- too frequent prescription of medications to children.
The latest report doesn't identify the causes of the decline in American children's health. Professor Forrest, however, disagrees with the Trump administration's diagnosis. He believes that improving overall care for the youngest members of American society is paramount.
"Our children live in a very toxic environment, but it's not about chemicals. Or food or smartphones. It's a much broader problem. And more profound. It's about what we call the developmental ecosystem, and our important task is to change it," the specialist says.
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