Commission unveils childhood disease assessment

WASHINGTON — The Presidential Commission to Make America Healthy Again released an assessment identifying key drivers behind the childhood chronic disease crisis.

The assessment is the result of President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing the MAHA Commission tasked with delivering a “Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment.”

The report notes a range of contributing factors, including poor diet, accumulation of environmental toxins, insufficient physical activity, chronic stress and overmedication.

“By examining these drivers, the assessment arms MAHA Commission stakeholders and partners with clear evidence that will support the development of effective policy interventions where they can deliver the greatest impact,” a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services press release stated.

“We will end the childhood chronic disease crisis by attacking its root causes head-on — not just managing its symptoms,” said Health 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. I’m grateful to President Trump for his leadership — and for trusting me to lead this fight to root out corruption, restore scientific integrity and reclaim the health of our children.”

The report noted the following:

• Today in the United States, more than 1 in 5 children over 6 years old are obese. This is a more than 270% increase compared to the 1970s.

• Prevalence of prediabetes in teens is more than 1 in 4 teens, having more than doubled over the last two decades.

• Childhood cancer incidence has risen over nearly 40% since 1975, especially in children aged 0 to 19.

• Autism spectrum disorder impacts 1 in 31 children by age 8.

• Teenage depression rates nearly doubled from 2009 to 2019, with more than 1 in 4 teenage girls in 2022 reporting a major depressive episode in the past year.

• Three million high school students seriously considered suicide in 2023.

• Between 1997 and 2018, childhood food allergy prevalence rose 88%.

Potential Drivers

The report identified “four potential drivers” behind the rise in childhood chronic diseases that present the clearest opportunities for progress:

• Poor Diet: The American diet has shifted dramatically toward ultra-processed foods, leading to nutrient depletion, increased caloric intake and exposure to harmful additives. Nearly 70% of children’s calories now come from UPFs, contributing to obesity, diabetes and other chronic conditions.

• Aggregation of Environmental Chemicals: Children are exposed to an increasing number of synthetic chemicals, some of which have been linked to developmental issues and chronic disease. The current regulatory framework should be continually evaluated to ensure that chemicals and other exposures do not interact together to pose a threat to the health of our children.

• Lack of Physical Activity and Chronic Stress: American children are experiencing unprecedented levels of inactivity, screen use, sleep deprivation and chronic stress. These factors significantly contribute to the rise in chronic diseases and mental health challenges.

• Overprescribing medications: There is a concerning trend of overprescribing medications to children, often driven by conflicts of interest in medical research, regulation and practice. This has led to unnecessary treatments and long-term health risks.

“We must do more to improve the health outcomes of our kids and families, and President Trump knows agriculture is at the heart of the solution. America’s farmers and ranchers dedicate their lives to the noble cause of feeding their country and the world and in doing so have created the safest and most abundant and affordable food supply in the world,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.

“We are working to make sure our kids and families are consuming the healthiest food we produce. I look forward to continuing to work with Secretary Kennedy and other members of the MAHA Commission to improve our nation’s health.”

“America’s childhood chronic disease crisis will be solved through innovation,” said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

“At EPA, we will do our part to protect human health and the environment while fulfilling all of our statutory obligations to safely regulate chemicals needed for every part of modern life to transport, build, feed and power the ‘Great American Comeback.’

“This report shows America will continue to be the energy, industrial and agricultural power of the world — and we can continue this while ensuring we have the healthiest children.”

Going Forward

Next steps will include supporting scientific research and developing a comprehensive strategy. The MAHA Commission now has 82 days to produce the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, based on the findings from the May 22 assessment.

The National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will act to close research gaps and drive decisive action against the escalating childhood chronic disease crisis.