The White House’s Make America Healthy Again Commission published its anticipated report on childhood chronic disease May 22.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Feb. 13 to develop the commission, which is tasked with investigating “the root causes of America’s escalating health crisis.” The order instructed the commission, led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kenendy Jr., to release an assessment on childhood chronic disease within 100 days, with a second report due within 180 days outlining strategies to improve children’s health.
Ten takeaways from the report:
1. The report calls childhood chronic disease an “unprecedented health crisis,” citing CDC data showing more than 40% of the nation’s 73 million children have at least one chronic condition. These include asthma, allergies, obesity, autoimmune diseases or behavioral health disorders.
“Today’s children are the sickest generation in American history in terms of chronic disease and these preventable trends continue to worsen each year, posing threat to our nation’s health, economy and military readiness,” the commission said.
2. The report outlines four main drivers of the nation’s chronic disease burden: ultra-processed foods, exposure to environmental chemicals, pervasive technology use and the overprescribing of medications.
3. Ultra-processed foods account for about two-thirds of all calories consumed by American children, according to the report. The commission cited research suggesting these foods are linked to rising rates of obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions among children.
4. Children are also exposed to an increasing amount of environmental chemicals, some of which have been tied to developmental issues and chronic disease, the report said. While Mr. Kennedy has previously scrutinized the potential health risks of pesticides, the report focuses on the “cumulative load of chemicals in the environment,” including microplastics, fluoride and phthalates,” according to NBC News. The commission said a renewed focus on “gold standard science” and more private sector innovation are needed to understand and address the health effects of such chemicals.
5. A third factor contributing to children’s worsening physical and mental health is their increasingly sedentary, technology-driven lifestyle, according to the report. The commission cited high levels of inactivity, screen use, sleep deprivation and chronic stress as key challenges to address in this area.
6. The report claims the U.S. healthcare system “has over-medicalized children, frequently masking and compounding underlying issues.” This overprescribing of medications is often caused by conflicts of interest between medical research, regulation and practice, leading to unnecessary treatment and long-term health risks, the commission said.
7. The commission questioned the routine childhood immunization schedule in its report, noting there has been limited scientific research into potential links between vaccines and chronic disease.
Claims that the current vaccine schedule could overwhelm children’s immune systems have circulated for years among anti-vaccine activists. Jason Schwartz, PhD, a vaccine policy expert and associate professor of public health at Yale University, told The Washington Post there is not a strong scientific rationale behind those concerns.
8. The report also contends that federal health guidance and nutrition programs are often shaped by industry interests, which can undermine trust and promote unhealthy behaviors.
9. The report did not address gun violence — the leading cause of death among children and teens— or tobacco use, which is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., according to NBC News.
10. In a May 22 media briefing, Mr. Kennedy said the commission will publish a follow-up report with policy recommendations within the next 100 days. He said there is currently “no budget” for the effort, as “there’s no concrete policy that could be funded in a budget,” according to NBC News.
View the full report here.
