Health Hotline Magazine | August 2026

Our Kids’ Health is in Trouble It’s Time to Act By Lindsay Wilson

Adults, listen up! The kids in this country need us to pay attention: their collective health is in bad shape. Over the last 16 years, American children and adolescents (including teens) have gotten sicker—mentally and physically. This is according to a study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The researchers behind the study examined medical records from 10 pediatric medical centers across the U.S. and found that nearly 46% of the patients from three to 17 had a chronic medical condition . In particular, the prevalence of anxiety, depression, obesity, and sleep apnea increased, while physical activity decreased.

Unfortunately, this study is not unique. Previous research shows similar findings—obesity rates, mental health disorders like anxiety and depression, and liver disease are increasing at worrisome rates among U.S. children and adolescents. Many influencing factors come into play, some are systemic issues and may feel out of our control—socioeconomic status, race, lack of access to resources, widespread pollution and pesticide use, and public health policy—but a huge underlying factor is also lifestyle, and that is within our control. Lifestyle habits, including diet, screen time, physical movement, time spent outdoors, etc., play a massive role in children’s health, for better or worse. And it’s up to us adults (parents! grandparents! aunts! uncles! other caretakers!) to establish and promote these healthy habits.

While there are a number of systemic issues that need to be addressed at the policy-making level, we’re going to focus on the lifestyle influences that have led our kids to this state of unwellness, and actionable steps to do something about it. It’s also important to note that these conditions (poor mental health, obesity, sleep

What lifestyle factors are driving these trends?

problems, and liver dysfunction) can be, and often are, interconnected. So by incorporating healthy lifestyle habits/changes, you can address them all. Whether you regularly spend time around kids and adolescents or not, it’s common knowledge that in general, they spend way more time on screens than any previous generation, they spend less time playing outside (i.e., being active), and they are tempted with a seemingly endless supply of ultra-processed foods and drinks. These things come together to form a perfect storm for poor health.

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