Report reveals how poverty can affect children's health

By Staff Writer

According to a new report by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, being poor for even a short period of time can have lasting health implications for children. Approximately 15.5 million children are living in poverty in the U.S., which accounts for one in five children, according to the Census Bureau.

Researchers looked at data surrounding four topics, including health, food security, housing stability and maltreatment, CNN reports. They examined each in relation to past and present recessions.

A total of 21 percent of all households with children were estimated to be "food insecure," according to the report data. "Food insecure" is when a family does not have adequate access to nutritious food in order to meet proper dietary needs.

The numbers illustrate that even a one-time recession can have lasting consequences, according to a co-senior author of the study. During childhood, the body is growing quickly and researchers say even a brief period of poor nutrition could lead to lifelong issues, according to CNN.

Unsafe living conditions, homelessness and frequent moves put children more at risk to suffer from a number of health issues, including hypertension, heart disease, depression or anxiety, athsma, developmental delays and behavioral problems, the media outlet reports.