No, KXAN-TV, Claims That Climate Change Is Affecting Children’s Mental and Physical Health is Flat Wrong
By
Anthony Watts
January 28, 2025
The recent article by KXAN, titled “How Climate Change Impacts Children’s Mental, Physical Health,” claims that climate change is harming children in numerous ways. However, this article is false, and its narrative misses the forest for the trees. The real threats to children’s mental and physical health are much closer to home, and they have little, if anything, to do with climate change. Issues like the alarming rise in childhood obesity and the pervasive addiction to video games and online content are far more immediate, damaging, and scientifically supported contributors to declining health in today’s youth.
To begin with, let’s consider childhood obesity, a crisis that has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and many other countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents in the U.S. has tripled since the 1970s. As of 2020, nearly 1 in 5 children in the United States was obese, with rates even higher in some demographic groups. Obesity significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, which can persist into adulthood.
Similarly, screen addiction and excessive online engagement are wreaking havoc on children’s mental and physical well-being. A study published in BMC Public Health (2022) found that screen time among children doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some children spending an average of 7.7 hours per day on screens. Prolonged exposure to video games and online content is linked to poor sleep, depression, anxiety, and even delayed developmental milestones. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has warned that excessive screen time can erode family bonds, diminish attention spans, and lead to social isolation.
https://climaterealism.com/2025/01/no-kxan-tv-claims-that-climate-change-is-affecting-childrens-mental-and-physical-health-is-flat-wrong/
