Why American Children Are Less Healthy Now Than Nearly Two Decades Ago
Ask students: Where does the U.S. rank among the 38 high-income countries in the 2020 UNICEF report evaluating the overall well-being of children?
Note: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this bell ringer activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
As the Trump administration works to reimagine public health, a new study paints a stark picture of the challenges facing the nation’s kids. American children’s health has significantly worsened across several key indicators since 2007, according to a recent study published in JAMA. Ali Rogin speaks with Dr. Christopher Forrest, a pediatrician and one of the study’s lead authors, for more.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Who is Dr. Christopher Forrest, and what is his background?
- Why have the health outcomes of American children declined so significantly in recent decades, according to Dr. Forrest?
- How do child death rates in the U.S. today compare to those in other wealthy, high-income countries?
- What criticisms does Dr. Forrest raise about the Trump administration’s analysis of this issue and its underlying causes?
- Where does the U.S. rank among the 38 high-income countries in the 2020 UNICEF report evaluating the overall well-being of children?
Focus Questions
- What social or environmental factors do you think have the biggest impact on children’s health today, and why?
- In what ways can acknowledging the root causes of children’s health problems lead to more effective policy changes?
- Media literacy: How can the media be used as a tool to not only inform viewers about this topic, but also encourage positive action from both the public and policymakers?
Extension Activity
Research one potential root cause contributing to the poor health outcomes among children in the United States. Then, create an infographic that clearly explains this root cause and thoughtfully outlines ways it can be addressed.
Your infographic should include:
- A clear definition or explanation of the root cause
- Evidence or data showing how this root cause affects children’s health
- Examples of communities or populations most impacted by this issue
- Possible solutions: strategies, policies, or actions that could help address this root cause and improve children's health outcomes
- Visuals: graphs, charts, photographs, or illustrations
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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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