In a sobering new study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association on July 1, researchers confirmed what many Catholic families have long sensed: the health of American children has deteriorated significantly over the past 17 years. From rising obesity and chronic illnesses to increased mental health struggles and even higher mortality rates, the data paints a bleak picture—and calls for a compassionate, faith-filled response.
“The surprising part of the study wasn’t any single statistic,” said Dr. Christopher Forrest, a pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and one of the study’s lead authors. “It was that there’s 170 indicators, eight data sources, all showing the same thing: a generalized decline in kids’ health,” according to the Associated Press.
For Catholics, this crisis strikes at the heart of our duty to defend the dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable. The Church teaches that children are a gift from God—created in His image and entrusted to our care. When children are suffering across so many dimensions, it is not merely a public health concern; it is a moral one.
Why is this happening?
The study, which analyzed surveys, electronic health records, and international mortality statistics, revealed deeply troubling trends:
- Obesity among children aged 2 to 19 increased from 17% in 2007–2008 to about 21% by 2023.
- The annual prevalence of chronic health conditions rose from about 40% in 2011 to 46% in 2023.
- Children today are 15% to 20% more likely to suffer from conditions such as anxiety, depression, or sleep apnea than in 2011.
- American children are now 1.8 times more likely to die than their peers in other high-income countries, with firearm-related deaths and motor vehicle crashes contributing to the disparity.
Dr. Forrest summed it up poignantly: “Kids are the canaries in the coal mine. When kids’ health changes, it’s because they’re at increased vulnerability, and it reflects what’s happening in society at large.”
This is a moment of moral reflection. What kind of society are we building for our children? How have our cultural priorities—obsession with productivity, neglect of community life, breakdown of the family—contributed to this widespread distress?
How did we get here?
Some federal policies are compounding the problem. Although Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has drawn attention to children’s health through his “Make America Healthy Again” report—warning that kids are “undernourished and overmedicated”—critics argue that the administration’s broader actions are undercutting those concerns.
“The health of kids in America is not as good as it should be, not as good as in other countries, and the current policies of this administration are definitely going to make it worse,” said Dr. Frederick Rivara of the Seattle Children’s Hospital in an editorial accompanying the study.
These policies include cuts to Medicaid, scientific research, maternal health programs, and injury prevention efforts. Alarmingly, experts also warn that federal rhetoric is “fueling vaccine hesitancy among parents that may lead to a resurgence of deadly vaccine-preventable diseases.”
Even well-intentioned reports like MAHA, Forrest said, often reduce complex issues to oversimplified causes like ultra-processed food, without considering the full context. “We have to step back and take some lessons from the ecological sustainability community and say: Let’s look at the ecosystem that kids are growing up in. And let’s start on a kind of neighborhood-by-neighborhood, city-by-city basis, examining it.”
What can Catholics do?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that “The political community has a duty to honor the family, to assist it, and to ensure especially… the right to health” (CCC 2211). In the face of these grim findings, the Catholic community cannot remain silent or passive.
We must respond with:
- Prayer: Pray for our children, especially those who are suffering from chronic illness, mental health struggles, or are caught in violent or impoverished environments.
- Advocacy: Speak out for policies that protect children’s health—spiritually, physically, and mentally.
- Parish action: Parishes can create programs that support parents, promote healthy living, offer mental health resources, and provide space for children to flourish in community.
- Personal witness: Families can reclaim healthier, simpler lifestyles that prioritize time together, shared meals, faith formation, and outdoor activity over screens and stress.
This study is a wake-up call—but not a cause for despair. As Catholics, we are people of hope. Let us take seriously the call to defend life, starting with the youngest and most vulnerable among us. Because when children thrive, the whole Church thrives.
Sources: JAMA Pediatrics, Associated Press reporting July 1, 2025; AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib; statements by Dr. Christopher Forrest, Dr. Frederick Rivara, and Dr. James Perrin.
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