Nearly half of all American children are living with at least one chronic health condition—whether it’s eczema, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, asthma, obesity, or something more complex. That’s not normal.
Yet we’ve somehow come to accept this situation as the baseline for childhood health.
We’re told it’s genetic. We’re told it’s random. We’re told it’s normal.
It is not normal. Fortunately—as a pediatrician who works with families every day—I can tell you, we’re not doomed.
The rise in chronic illness isn’t a mystery. Nor did it happen overnight. It’s the cumulative result of a culture that treats symptoms instead of asking questions, that medicates before investigating, and that feeds children food-like substances instead of real nourishment.
However, there is good news—if the problem is systemic, then so is the solution.
From Sick Care to Root Cause
If we zoom out from diagnoses and look upstream, five major disruptors stand out as root causes of most chronic conditions I see in practice:
- Inflammation: Chronic low-grade inflammation is at the root of everything from eczema to autoimmune disease. It’s often fueled by poor diet, lack of sleep, and environmental toxins.
- Nutrient deficiency: Our soil is depleted, our diets are processed, and our kids are being raised on food that fills but doesn’t fuel. Micronutrient gaps impair immunity, mood, and development.
- Toxic load: From plastics and pesticides to air pollution, today’s children are exposed to thousands of chemicals—many of which have never been tested for safety in children.
- Microbiome disruption: C-sections, antibiotics, processed food, and lack of outdoor time have altered the gut health of an entire generation. The microbiome is central to immune function, digestion, and even mental health.
- Nervous system dysregulation: Constant stimulation, screen exposure, and lack of restorative rhythms are leaving children in a chronic state of fight-or-flight. When the nervous system can’t settle, the body can’t heal.
These aren’t fringe theories. They are well-documented physiological truths backed by research in immunology, endocrinology, and neurobiology. However, they rarely make it into a 10-minute pediatric visit.
The Empowered Parent’s Roadmap
Making changes in your lifestyle may sound overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. Parents are not powerless—they are the most important health advocates their children will ever have.
Hellbound and Down 