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For example, more than ten thousand chemicals listed on EPA’s inventory are designated as confidential and generic chemical names are used to identify them. SECTION THREE: THE CRISIS OF CHILDHOOD BEHAVIOR IN THE DIGITAL AGE Over the past four decades, American children have transitioned from an active, play-based childhood to a sedentary, technology-driven lifestyle, contributing to increases in chronic physical and mental health disease. Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and co-author of TheAnxious Generation , terms this shift the “Great Rewiring of Childhood,” driven by increased screen time, reduced physical activity, and psychosocial stressors such as loneliness, chronic stress, and sleep deprivation. 326 The Decline of Physical Activity Physical activity, encompassing moderate-to-vigorous exercise, aerobic fitness, and reduced sedentary time, is critical for child health and well-being. 327 However, American youth have seen a steady decline in activity and cardiorespiratory fitness over decades, contributing to rising obesity, diabetes, mental health disorders, and cardiometabolic risks. 328 329 330 Studies show: • Aerobic Fitness Among U.S. Children Has Declined: U.S. children experienced a significant decline in aerobic fitness for decades; an international study ranked the aerobic fitness of U.S. children 47th out of 50. 331332 A2020 Scientific Statement from theAmerican Heart Association (AHA) reported that nearly 60% of American children (specifically 12- to 15-year-olds) do not have healthy cardiorespi- ratory fitness (CRF). 333 • Very Few Children Meet Daily Physical Activity Recommendations: More than 70% of children aged 6-17 (rising to 85% in teens) did not meet the 2024 federal minimum recommendation of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. 334 Several factors contribute to this “physical activity deficit”: • Reduced Active School Transportation: • In 1969, 48% of K-8 students usually walked or bicycled to school, 335 declining to 12.7% in 2009. 336 • Diminished In-School Activity and Recess: Since the 1970s, recess and physical education (PE) have steadily declined. 337 338 339 • Weekly recess time fell by 60 minutes since 2001, and PE access dropped by 32% since 1990. 340 341 • In 2025, U.S. public school PEminutes fell short of SHAPEAmerica’s targets, for all age groups with elementary and middle schools offering about an hour less PE than recommended. 342 • Limited Recess Policies: • In 2022, only 10 states mandated daily recess for elementary students. 343 • Fewer than half of U.S. school districts had formal recess policies, with many treating recesses as optional. 344 • Screen Time Impact on Sedentary Behavior: • Nearly half of teens report being online almost constantly 345 while excessive screen time exposure has been linked to physical inactivity. 346