Today, 35% of American children are being raised in single-parent families.

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We know that the poverty rate is higher among single parent households than in families with married couples.

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But the rise of single-parent families in itself has complex social causes, and it will not be reversed by politicians.

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At the same time, Americans are more likely than ever to live apart from extended family, including the second parent (34% of all families in the US are headed by a single parent today compared to just 11% in 1970).

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But they also warned inner city areas of London, Nottingham, Hull and Manchester, which commonly had young populations with unhealthy habits and high levels of single-parent families, were likely to face serious problems in the future.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Health warning for inner cities