A call for rigorous research investment in women’s health

Worldwide, women face a disproportionately heavier health burden than their male counterparts. Yet, there is a chronic lack of research attention and investment in women’s health, which may explain the absence of women-inclusive, let alone women-centered, understanding of the causes, consequences and confounding factors that shape individuals’ health and quality of life. In this article, by analyzing the US National Health Expenditure data, we show how ingrained the issue of poor investment in women’s health even in the 0–18 years age group in terms of per capita health expenditure. We hope this article sheds light on how early-life poor health investment in women’s health might be a potential cause for women’s poor health in adulthood, and in turn, underscores the importance of investing resources into better understanding and improving women’s health.