Are We Paying Attention to What’s Happening to Our Kids’ Health?

Three major studies released over the past two months show a troubling shift in children’s health across the United States. Not only are rates of chronic illness climbing quickly, but that lab tests show that toxic chemicals are now present in the blood of nearly all toddlers tested. These findings reflect patterns that are showing up in more and more families, often without a clear explanation. Many children are dealing with low energy, poor focus, frequent illness, or behavioral challenges, but the scale of the problem and its root causes are still not widely recognized.

To understand what’s happening, it helps to look at the numbers.

1. Chronic conditions are now the norm for American kids
A national study published in JAMA in 2025 looked at health data from nearly 2.1 million pediatric health records found that by 2023, almost 50% of children in the U.S. had at least one chronic health condition. These include:

·       Asthma

·       Obesity

·       ADHD and behavioral disorders

·       Developmental delays

·       Anxiety and depression

·       Digestive issues

·       Skin problems

·       Hearing and vision problems

·       Seizures

·       Bone and joint problems

·       Anemia

·       Speech disorders

Many children had multiple conditions at once, and the study found chronic illnesses increasing across all age groups. The study also found that children in the U.S. are more likely to die young than children in other wealthy countries. American kids are now 1.8 times more likely to die before adulthood compared to peers globally. On nearly every measure of well-being, children in the U.S. are doing worse than they were a decade ago.

2. One in three teens now has prediabetes
The CDC released new data showing that 1 in 3 U.S. teenagers has prediabetes. This marks a sharp increase since 2016 and reflects broader issues with insulin resistance, blood sugar regulation, and metabolic health in children and teens.

Prediabetes often has no symptoms in the early stages, but it raises long-term risks for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and other chronic conditions. At the same time, ultra-processed food now makes up 60% of the average child’s diet. These foods are low in nutrients and high in additives that disrupt hormones and blood sugar.

3. Most toddlers in the U.S. have dozens of toxic chemicals in their blood
A new study from UC Davis found that over 90% of American toddlers tested had 34 different toxic chemicals in their blood. The chemicals included:

• Flame retardants (100%) – Every toddler tested had these chemicals in their blood. Flame retardants are added to furniture, car seats, and electronics. They are linked to hormone disruption and developmental delays.
• Microplastic compounds (96%) – Nearly all toddlers had plastic-related chemicals in their blood, likely from food, water, packaging, and household dust.
• Phthalates from plastics (100%) – All toddlers tested had phthalates, which are used to soften plastics in toys, food packaging, and personal care products. These chemicals interfere with hormone function.
• Pesticide markers (85%) – A large majority had traces of pesticide exposure, likely from non-organic food and household pest treatments. Many pesticides are neurotoxic to developing brains.
• Heavy metals including lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium (69%) – Two-thirds of toddlers had detectable levels of toxic metals, which are harmful to brain development, kidneys, and the nervous system.
• PFAS, or “forever chemicals” (100%) – Every toddler had PFAS in their blood. These chemicals are found in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant clothing, and food wrappers. They build up in the body and are linked to immune suppression, liver damage, and cancer.

These exposures come from food, water, air, clothing, toys, furniture, packaging, and cleaning products—often despite a parent’s best efforts. Many of these substances interfere with hormones, the gut microbiome, metabolism, or brain development. Most have never been tested for safety in young children.

What all of this means
Children are meant to be healthy. Their bodies are designed for rapid healing, strong immune responses, and resilience. These systems have been refined over millions of years of evolution to help them recover from illness, adapt to stress, and grow with strength and stability.

Exposure to harmful chemicals, artificial light, screen time, and ultra-processed food has risen sharply over the past two decades. In that same window, rates of chronic illness in children have gone up across nearly every category. These conditions are interfering with how the body regulates metabolism, immunity, and development—and they’re showing up earlier and more often.

When nearly half of children are now managing a chronic condition, that natural design is being disrupted. The data points to changes in the environment—how kids eat, sleep, move, and interact with the world around them. Processed food, chemical exposure, poor sleep, limited movement, and constant digital stimulation are shaping how children develop, starting early and compounding over time.

As Dr. Mark Hyman - a world leading doctor has warned, “For the first time in generations, our kids may not outlive us.”

What parents can do
Supporting your child’s health doesn’t need to be expensive. But it does need to be deliberate. The environments kids grow up in today are very different from what their bodies are built for. Small changes, done consistently and deliberately, can help rebuild the foundations children need to thrive.

• Food: Focus on nutrient-dense, whole foods. Cook at home when possible. Prioritize seasonal and local ingredients—local food is usually fresher and more nutrient-rich.
• Chemicals: Reduce exposure wherever you can. That includes pesticides in food, synthetic fragrances, plastics in toys and containers, flame retardants in furniture, chemicals in cleaning products, and PFAS found in clothing, carpets, and packaging. Air quality, water filters, and safer cookware can make an immediate difference.
• Light: Get as much natural outdoor light as possible, especially in the morning. In the evenings, reduce exposure to artificial and blue light by dimming lights, avoiding screens, and switching to warm, low-light environments after sunset. Sleeping in complete darkness helps restore melatonin and supports immune function.
• Movement: Make time for daily physical activity, ideally outdoors. Kids need unstructured play, time in nature, and chances to move their bodies in real environments—not just in front of screens or inside structured programs. Movement supports metabolism, mood, focus, and sleep.
• Community: Build real, face-to-face connection into daily life. Family is the core unit, but kids also need a sense of belonging with friends, neighbors, and broader community. Relationships buffer stress, support nervous system regulation, and shape how children see their place in the world.