Particle.news
Download on the App Store
30 ARTICLES
·
5d ago

MAHA Commission Releases Report on U.S. Childhood Chronic Disease Crisis

The inaugural report identifies ultra-processed foods, environmental toxins, digital lifestyles, and overmedicalization as key drivers, with policy recommendations expected in 100 days.

Image
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testifies before a Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittee hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Health and Human Services, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testifies before a Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittee hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Health and Human Services, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in Washington.
US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks alongside Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary, Director of the National Institutes of Health Jayanta Bhattachary, President Donald Trump, and speechwriter and political advisor Vince Haley during an executive orders signing event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 5.

Overview

  • Over 40% of U.S. children have at least one chronic health condition, including obesity, asthma, and behavioral disorders, according to the report.
  • The report highlights the health risks of ultra-processed foods, linking them to 32 adverse outcomes such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
  • Environmental toxins, including pesticides and chemicals like PFAS and microplastics, are flagged as significant contributors to rising chronic disease rates.
  • Concerns about overmedicalization are raised, citing a dramatic increase in prescriptions for antidepressants, ADHD medications, and other drugs for children.
  • The Commission calls for further scientific inquiry into the childhood vaccine schedule and its potential links to chronic diseases, while emphasizing the need for rigorous, independent research.