The United Kingdom is on track to raise one of the unhealthiest generations of children in decades, with declining health across every major indicator, according to a new report. The State of Child Health 2026 report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) indicates that children's health is either declining or stalling in areas including obesity, mental illness, tooth decay, and vaccine uptake. This trend positions the UK among the worst in Europe for child outcomes.
Paediatricians are urging the government to prioritize children's health, warning that failure to act will result in another generation being let down. The report assesses child health across 12 domains: infant and child mortality, immunisations, early childhood development, oral health, obesity, mental health, emotional health and wellbeing, vaping and smoking, asthma, substance misuse, and injuries. It also highlights significant disparities between the most and least deprived communities.
"The UK's record on children's health should be a national embarrassment," stated Dr. Helen Stewart, officer for health improvement at RCPCH. She added that many other Western European countries achieve better outcomes for children, yet too many in the UK are being left behind. The report concludes that the UK is failing children, particularly those from ethnic minority and poorer backgrounds, which could lead to more children growing up in poor health and entering adulthood at a disadvantage.
The proportion of children aged eight to 16 with a probable mental health disorder rose from 12.5% in 2019 to 20.3% in 2023. However, access to school-based mental health support has worsened, with children reportedly only receiving help at crisis point.
Concerns are also rising over e-cigarette use among young people, with 27% of girls and 22% of boys aged 11 to 15 having tried vapes. Clinicians are observing detrimental health impacts, with one doctor reporting a six-year-old patient with severe bronchiectasis found using a parent's vape.
Vaccination rates have also fallen below recommended levels, with only 84% of children receiving two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine by age five, well below the World Health Organization's target of 95%. This decline increases the risk of preventable diseases spreading.
Further data indicates that one in three children aged 10 and 11 are overweight or obese, and a fifth of five-year-olds experience tooth decay. Alcohol use in childhood is also described as widespread and increasing. Paediatricians have also noted a rise in referrals for speech and language delays, sleep difficulties, nutritional deficiencies, and behavioral issues.
Infant mortality rates in the most deprived communities are more than double those in the least deprived areas, and mortality among one to 17-year-olds is nearly double. YouGov polling commissioned by RCPCH found that only 12% of parents believe child health has improved over the past decade.
The report calls for a reallocation of spending towards children's health, a funded workforce plan, improved national data collection, and binding national targets. It also advocates for expanded water fluoridation, stricter regulations on junk food promotion, increased mental health support in schools, tighter controls on vape flavors and branding, and a Clean Air Act.
Haroon Chowdry, chief executive of the Centre for Young Lives, commented that the long-held assumption of each generation being healthier than the last is no longer true. Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England, stated that too many families are experiencing the "tragedy" of unhealthy childhoods, with children being held back by circumstances beyond their control.
A government spokesperson responded by acknowledging that too many children, particularly in deprived communities, experience poorer health outcomes. The government is implementing measures aimed at lifting children out of poverty, tackling health inequalities, and promoting healthier lifestyles. These actions include ending the two-child limit on benefits, expanding mental health support in schools, opening family hubs and local health centers, and enacting stricter rules on smoking, vapes, and junk food advertising. The spokesperson also highlighted initiatives like free breakfast clubs for primary pupils and free school meals for households receiving Universal Credit.