The state of our children
Posted on Jul 13th 2007 1:00PM by Bethany SandersA 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:
The bad:
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.








