Social inequalities in income and wealth have a profound effect on the physical and mental health of children. For example, children from low-socioeconomic-status (SES) backgrounds are at greater risk for most forms of childhood morbidities compared to children from higher-SES backgrounds. (Note that the determination of SES is based on varying indices of family income (in relation to federally determined poverty thresholds), parental education (for example, those with college degrees versus those without), and parental occupation (for example, professional versus unskilled labor)). Impoverished conditions during childhood are associated with poorer adult health, and low childhood SES may be the single most powerful contributor to premature mortality and morbidity worldwide.