If you ask anyone what they want for their children, you’ll likely hear one of the same answers continue to pop up: good health.

However, childhood health outcomes are heading in the wrong direction. About one in five children and adolescents in the U.S. has obesity, and recent research published in JAMA found that several measures of children’s health have declined since 2007, including sleep health, mental health, and chronic physical conditions.

These trends have consequences that extend well beyond childhood. Research shows that many of the chronic diseases driving healthcare costs, straining employers, and reducing workforce productivity are influenced by habits and routines established during early childhood. These conditions include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. They also affect working families today, as parents navigate the challenges of supporting a child’s health while balancing work responsibilities.

If we want healthier adults and a more productive workforce tomorrow, we need to invest in healthier habits for children today.

Organizations across healthcare, education, government, and the nonprofit sector have long recognized the importance of helping children live healthier lives. There are many longstanding health programs for elementary and high school-age children, such as Action for Healthy Kids and Abbott’s own Future Well Kids, along with federally supported programs such as Bright Futures. All are working toward the same goal.

While school-age health is important, experts increasingly identify early childhood, as young as three years old, as a critical window for development. This is when habits begin to take shape and can influence health outcomes for years to come.

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