WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Presidential Commission to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) has released a comprehensive assessment detailing the root causes of the growing childhood chronic disease crisis. This report, delivered on May 22, 98 days after President Trump’s executive order establishing the MAHA Commission, identifies poor diet, environmental toxins, insufficient physical activity, chronic stress, and overmedicalization as major contributors to the alarming rise in chronic illnesses among American children.
“We will end the childhood chronic disease crisis by attacking its root causes head-on—not just managing its symptoms,” declared Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We will follow the truth wherever it leads, uphold rigorous science, and drive bold policies that put the health, development, and future of every child first.”
The report presents stark statistics that underscore the urgency of the issue. Over 20% of children over the age of six are obese, a figure representing a 270% increase since the 1970s. The prevalence of pre-diabetes in teens has more than doubled in the past two decades, now affecting more than one in four adolescents. Childhood cancer rates have surged nearly 40% since 1975, while autism affects one in 31 children by age eight. Mental health issues also pose significant challenges, with teenage depression rates nearly doubling between 2009 and 2019, and three million high school students seriously considering suicide in 2023 alone.
Agriculture and environmental policy will play a central role in addressing these concerns. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized the importance of ensuring healthy food production, while Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin highlighted the need for balancing innovation, regulation, and sustainability. “At EPA, we will do our part to protect human health and the environment while fulfilling all of our statutory obligations,” Zeldin said.
Next steps will include advancing gold-standard scientific research and developing a comprehensive strategy to combat the crisis. The report sets a timeline of 82 days for the MAHA Commission’s “Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy,” which will guide federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in implementing targeted, evidence-based actions.
From overhauling the regulation of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances to applying artificial intelligence for real-time monitoring, the commission aims to address gaps in research and implement impactful interventions. The findings and next steps mark a decisive push by the federal government to confront what is described as a national health emergency with lasting consequences for future generations.
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