One in five children in the USA has a chronic illness. The figure has trebled in the last 20 years, mainly because of rising levels of asthma, obesity and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
More than 1 million children now receive disability benefit from the government, and a new study estimates that 5 million children – that’s 7 per cent of all children in the USA - have an illness that limits their daily activities.
While better diagnosis may explain some of the increase, researchers believe it is primarily down to poor lifestyle – such as a bad diet and lack exercise – and environmental factors, such as pollution.
(Source: Journal of the American Medical Association, 2007; 297: 2755-9).
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