Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump are sounding the alarm on what they call a growing health emergency among America’s youth. Their new commission, packed with prominent agency leaders, has just dropped an explosive report that’s already shaking up Washington.
According to Fox News, the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s first assessment paints a grim picture: chronic conditions are skyrocketing among U.S. children, and the nation’s future security could be at risk.
The commission, headed by Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy, highlights a sharp increase in conditions like obesity, depression, autism, and other health issues among children. According to the report, American children are experiencing more physical and mental health problems, even though the country is spending more on healthcare than ever before. The commission plans to release major policy proposals by the end of August in response to these concerns.
The MAHA report, released Thursday, reveals that more than 40% of America’s 73 million children now have at least one chronic health condition. These include asthma, allergies, obesity, autoimmune diseases, and behavioral disorders. Kennedy called the document a “diagnosis” of U.S. child health, with a “prescription” of solutions to follow in 100 days.
The statistics are startling. Teenage depression has nearly doubled from 2009 to 2019. One in five children over age six is considered obese. Autism diagnoses now affect one in 31 children by age eight, and childhood cancer rates have jumped 40% since 1975.
Commission leaders argue the nation’s health crisis is now a national security concern. They say roughly 75% of Americans aged 17-24 are ineligible for military service due to these chronic conditions, including obesity and behavioral disorders.
Commissioners blame a mix of factors for the chronic disease surge, including the American food system, environmental chemical exposure, and culture shifts. The report says the food supply is technically “safe,” but could be far healthier if it moved away from ultraprocessed foods loaded with sugars, chemical additives, and saturated fats.
Children’s exposure to pesticides, microplastics, and other chemicals is also cited as a contributing factor. But perhaps the most controversial claim centers on prescription drug use among youth. The report documents a 250% increase in ADHD prescriptions from 2006 to 2016, a 1,400% jump in antidepressant use between 1987 and 2014, and an 800% surge in antipsychotic medication for children from 1993 to 2009.
“American children are highly medicated — and it’s not working,” the report states. Officials say these trends outpace increases seen in other developed nations, suggesting a uniquely American crisis.
Not everyone agrees with the commission’s findings or its approach. Critics question the emphasis on environmental chemicals and food additives, arguing that the evidence tying these factors to chronic disease is not always clear-cut. Some public health experts argue that social and economic issues, such as poverty and access to care, play a much larger role.
The report’s findings on fluoride are especially controversial. A recent review cited by the commission found a “statistically significant association” between high fluoride exposure and reduced IQ in children, but critics say more research is needed before changing public health policies.
Others point out that the United States spends more than double per capita on healthcare compared to peer nations, yet still ranks last in life expectancy among high-income countries. They argue that broader reforms and a focus on prevention, rather than just changing food or medication policies, are needed to reverse these trends.
Commissioners stress that the chronic disease crisis is not just a health issue—it’s a threat to the nation’s security and economy. Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary warned, “We now have the most obese, depressed, disabled, medicated population in the history of the world, and we cannot keep going down the same road.”
Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary said,
We now have the most obese, depressed, disabled, medicated population in the history of the world, and we cannot keep going down the same road. So this is an amazing day. I hope this marks the grand pivot from a system that is entirely reactionary to a system that will now be proactive.
Director of the National Institutes of Health Jay Bhattacharya added that today’s children may live shorter lives than their parents for the first time in American history. The commission highlighted the need for a strong economy to support public health, cautioning that weak economies can make health problems even worse.
