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The White House's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has released its inaugural report on chronic disease. Established by an executive order from President Trump, the commission includes 14 officials from various federal agencies and focuses on improving life expectancy and addressing chronic disease.
The report, “Make Our Children Healthy Again: Assessment,” examined how innovations in technology, health, and agriculture have spurred economic growth while also posing health risks, linking many chronic diseases to these advancements. The report attributed many chronic diseases to the following potential drivers:
- Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) - Nearly 70% of children’s calories come from UPFs, which are loaded with added sugars, chemical additives, and saturated fats.
- Environmental chemicals - Children face growing exposure to synthetic chemicals like pesticides, microplastics, and dioxins.
- Sedentary, technology-driven lifestyle - Children's sedentary, tech-driven lifestyles lead to high inactivity, excessive screen time, sleep deprivation, and chronic stress. Teens average nine hours of non-school screen time daily, with 85% not meeting the 2024 federal activity guidelines.
- Medical overuse - Concerns exist about the overprescription of medications such as antidepressants, ADHD drugs, asthma treatments, and GLP-1 drugs to children.
The report recommended further study of childhood vaccine schedules and clinical trial practices.
What’s Next?
The report's initial findings have encountered industry resistance, with analysts cautioning that pesticide policies might erode public trust in food safety and negatively affect agriculture. Future public health policy changes are expected to meet opposition.
Currently, the report lacks detailed policy changes and cost assessments for chronic illness management. However, it outlines upcoming research initiatives and technology applications. Kennedy announced that the MAHA Commission will create a roadmap and policy recommendations within 100 days, with the strategy expected by August.
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