Concerning Rates of Childhood Chronic Disease

Image by Pexel

Is your child one of the 50% of children that has been diagnosed with a chronic illness? In recent years the rates of childhood chronic disease has increased substantially.

Prevalence of chronic disease in U.S. Children

• 1 in 5 children have eczema
• 1 in 5 school-age children are overweight
• 1 in 6 children have a mental, behavioral, developmental, or learning disorder
• 1 in 10 children have asthma
• 1 in 10 children have chronic constipation
• 1 in 13 children have a food allergy
• 1 in 36 children have autism spectrum disorder (Autism has increased 175% in children/young adults between 2011 and 2022.)
• Ear infections are the most common infection and reason for sick visits in children under 5 years of age.
• Rates of autoimmunity, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in U.S. children has increased rapidly in the recent years

References: CDC Interactive Summary Heath Statistics for Children, CDC Data & Statistics, & NIH Statistics, JAMA Network Open. 2024;7(10).

​Why have the rates of chronic illness increased so rapidly in children? There are likely several contributing factors. A few of the leading reasons hypothesized is:

1. A diet in highly processed foods which lacks adequate nutrients and disrupts a healthy gut microbiome important to overall health🍟🌭🍩
2. Increased exposure to screen time📲
3. Decreased activity and outdoor exposure for children🚴‍♀️
4. Increased chemical exposure ❌
5. Increased childhood stress😫

What as a parent can you do to help prevent or address chronic illness in your child?

1. Incorporate a whole foods diet for your family limiting highly processed and sugary foods 🥗🍉 
2. Promote a healthy microbiome with lots of veggies/fruits and probiotic rich foods 🥦🥕
3. Incorporate daily activity and outdoor time for your child/teen 🏀
4. Ensure adequate sleep time hours for your child/teens 🛌
5. Limit and monitor screen time exposure 💻
6. Provide loving/supportive family relationships that help manage stress 👫
7. Minimize chemical exposure in household and personal care products 🧴
8. Work with your child’s health care provider for well child care to address concerns early 🩺
9. Work with a health care provider that addresses root causes of childhood struggles/illness to build your child’s health, not merely treating symptoms or disease 👩‍⚕️

​The rising rates of childhood chronic illness impacts the entire family. Parents and children experience increased stress along with missed work and school days which can negatively impact work productivity and education. Childhood chronic disease can lead to increased financial burden for the family.

Are you concerned about your child’s health? Are you ready to address the underlying root causes of your child’s chronic illness to promote a brighter future for your child? ☀️

🎈Children’s health struggles respond well to early interventions to promote positive health outcomes. Wellness 4 KIDS focuses on building health not just treating disease.
​
​Learn more at www.Wellness4KIDS.net and Contact us for a FREE Pediatric Wellness Discovery Call to learn how to address your child’s health concerns with a holistic approach.