The state of our children

A new government report, titled America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2007, was released this week. Health experts say the findings serve as a "national report card" for the state of the health of the country's children.

The good:

• Fewer teens are having sex, and the teen birth rate hit an all time low in 2005.
• Children receiving recommended vaccinations are on the rise, up from 71% to 81%.
• Exposure to secondhand smoke has been reduced, but is still a significant 59%.
• In the 6-12 year old age group, the percentage of obesity tripled over the last 25 years.
• Violent crime is down significantly from 2003, though there was a small spike in 2005.
• About 88% of teens finish high school or earn a diploma.
• The number of children living in homes considered "food insecure" dropped, and the number of children living in homes where at least one parent was employed rose.

The bad:

• Gaps in progress still exist between different races and ethnicities.
• Nine percent of children suffer from asthma.
• In the 6-12 year old age group, the percentage of children with obesity tripled over the last 25 years.
• Around 18% of children are overweight or obese.
• The number of children with health insurance decreased by 5%.
• The number of low-birth weight infants is rising slowly, but steadily.

Though health experts acknowledge the good, they say that there is much ground to be made in children's health and well-being and call on the federal government to step in to make sure that happens. What do you think about this report?