154. Children’s health is getting worse in many ways
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
A new study shows that the health of our children is getting worse. For the study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers used annual data from the National Survey of Children’s Health to examine trends in children’s health-related measures from 2016 to 2020. They calculated a drop in physical activity of children of almost 20 percent. Even worse, anxiety levels among children increased 29 percent. Depression rose 27 percent, and behavioral problems increased 21 percent. Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to some of these signs of worsening health. Clearly we need to put more attention into kids’ physical and mental health now more than ever.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
