Introduction to the Report
The White House on Thursday released its long-awaited “Make America Healthy Again” report, painting a dire picture of American children’s health. The lengthy federal assessment’s goal is to identify the root causes of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
“Our kids are the sickest kids in the world,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said during a call with reporters Thursday morning.
Identifying the Problems
Ultraprocessed food and environmental toxins were at the top of Kennedy’s list of problems that need to be urgently addressed to curb increases in chronic diseases during childhood. The report also cited sedentary, technology-driven lifestyles and the overprescribing of medications. The report was heavy on outlining problems, but light on concrete solutions.
The Next Steps
“The next stage of this process is to come up with policy recommendations for the president,” Kennedy said. Trump commissioned the report in February in an executive order establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission, a group of high-ranking federal officials tasked with reviewing research and making recommendations on chronic disease in children. The report echoes the priorities of Kennedy, who chairs the commission.
Expected Outcomes and Challenges
Kennedy said Thursday that the assessment will inform a follow-up report on policy recommendations to be released in the next 100 days. He added that there is “no budget” to support the initiative at this point, given that “there’s no concrete policy that could be funded in a budget.” “I think everybody wants to prioritize the ultraprocessed food crisis” in those policy recommendations, he told NBC News on the call. Such foods have been linked to obesity, heart disease and cancer, but the strength and quality of these studies vary.
Existing Efforts and Concerns
As health secretary, Kennedy has been outspoken about all four subjects highlighted in the report. In his first nearly 100 days in office, he announced that he was asking the food industry to phase out artificial dyes from the food supply and directed the Food and Drug Administration to revise a rule that allows food manufacturers to use additives that are “generally recognized as safe” without notifying the federal government. He also praised local efforts to restrict cellphone use in schools, ban fluoride in public water systems and prohibit the purchase of soda and energy drinks under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps.
Environmental Toxins and Pesticides
Kennedy has also called attention to what he sees as serious health risks associated with pesticides — in particular, the weed killer glyphosate, which Kennedy has said is linked to a range of diseases, including cancer. The evidence itself is mixed. While the MAHA report was widely anticipated to focus on pesticides, it instead highlights the “cumulative load of chemicals in the environment,” mentioning pesticides alongside other chemicals like PFAS, microplastics, fluoride, phthalates and bisphenols.
Reactions and Criticisms
Many Republican lawmakers and members of the agricultural industry had expressed concern leading up to the report’s release that criticizing pesticide use could endanger farmers’ livelihoods and erode public trust in the food supply. Kennedy told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday that he would not take any action to jeopardize the jobs of farmers who rely on glyphosate. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said on Thursday’s press call that the federal government will continue to regularly review the safety of pesticides, but noted that abrupt changes in agricultural practices could adversely impact the domestic food supply.
Conclusion
While the MAHA report addresses some real issues, “the problem is that they need to come up with meaningful solutions,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. The report offers some hints of where the MAHA Commission might choose to place its focus. For instance, it recommends that the National Institutes of Health fund long-term trials comparing the effects of eating whole foods, reducing carbohydrate intake and minimizing ultraprocessed foods on obesity and insulin resistance in children.
FAQs
- Q: What is the main goal of the “Make America Healthy Again” report?
A: The main goal is to identify the root causes of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and neurodevelopmental disorders in children. - Q: What are the key problems identified by the report?
A: The report identifies ultraprocessed food, environmental toxins, sedentary lifestyles, and the overprescribing of medications as key problems. - Q: What is the next step after the release of the report?
A: The next step is to come up with policy recommendations for the president, which are expected to be released in the next 100 days. - Q: What has been the reaction to the report from the agricultural industry and lawmakers?
A: Many have expressed concern that criticizing pesticide use could endanger farmers’ livelihoods and erode public trust in the food supply. - Q: Are there any concrete solutions proposed in the report?
A: The report is light on concrete solutions but suggests areas for further research and policy focus, including the funding of long-term trials on diet and health outcomes in children.
