The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, established by President Donald Trump and led by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., published a 72-page report “exposing root causes of the childhood chronic disease crisis.”

The document, which was reportedly written after one publicly-known commission meeting, serves as a policy directive for HHS. It will focus on a number of factors contributing to childhood chronic disease such as poor diet, environmental toxins, chronic stress, lack of physical activity, and overmedicalization, echoing many of the viewpoints Kennedy shared on the 2024 campaign trail. The report cites conflicts of interest and corporate influence from U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated industries as a contributing factor.

A Grim Picture of Children’s Health

Amid some other troubling statistics, the report notes that 70% of calories children eat come from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), contributing to obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Today, one in five children over 6 years old is obese, which represents more than a 270% increase compared to the 1970s; rates of severe obesity increased by over 500% in that same time period.

Similarly, there were very few cases of type 2 diabetes in children in the 1980s, but incidence rates of both type 1 and type 2 have consistently increased in the past 20 years. Today, more than one in four teens has pre-diabetes, which is twice as prevalent as it was 20 years ago. Over 75% of Americans aged 17-24 are ineligible for military service primarily due to obesity, poor physical fitness, and/or mental health challenges, the report notes.

The report takes aim at contributing factors such as the modern diet, which is heavily skewed toward UPFs; exposure to 40,000-plus registered chemicals with known health risks; sedentary, technology-driven lifestyles; and rapidly rising rates of prescription medication use among children. The report notes that these issues are exacerbated by “corporate capture and the revolving door,” and the fact that the overwhelming majority of research on chronic childhood disease has been conducted by food, pharmaceutical, and chemical corporations, as well as special interest groups, heavily influencing policy.

“We will end the childhood chronic disease crisis by attacking its root causes head-on, not just managing its symptoms,” said Kennedy. “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 MAHA Commission reported that it will spend the next 82 days producing the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, based on the findings from the present report, “act[ing] swiftly to close research gaps” on the noted influences which contribute to upticks in childhood diseases such as obesity, prediabetes, cancer, autism spectrum disorder, allergies, and mental illness.

NPA Applauds Focus on Preventive Measures

Daniel Fabricant, PhD, president and CEO of the Natural Products Association (NPA), commended the report for its support of “nutritional interventions, reducing chronic disease through dietary changes and supplementation, encouraging responsible innovation in health and wellness products, and enhancing consumer education and regulatory clarity.

“The MAHA Commission’s first report dealing with children’s health is a move toward common-sense policies that prioritize the health and well-being of the American people. It was an honor to attend such a historic event and witness firsthand the Commission’s commitment to restoring the health of this nation,” Fabricant said.

“Too many Americans are overweight and undernourished, and this report doesn’t shy away from that truth. For far too long, our health system has focused on treatment instead of prevention. The MAHA Commission is helping to change that by championing solutions that empower individuals to take control of their health through access to nutrition and natural products.”

IFT Calls for Stakeholder Involvement

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), which represents the food science industry, stated that industry should have a place at the table as the MAHA Commission develops the policies it will implement.

“The release of the MAHA Commission report emphasized the need for more ‘gold-standard science,’ something that IFT’s scientific members spanning academia, government, and industry have delivered for more than 85 years across numerous administrations. IFT serves as the objective voice of the food science community, advocating for truth in science that helps create a healthier food system. The report spotlighted advancements that the panelists view as needed within our food system to better support children’s health, but a more holistic analysis of the extensive evidence-based scientific body of knowledge on food and public health needs to be included … there needs to be a broad stakeholder coalition to drive positive changes in public health, and that coalition for change must involve the food science community that has helped ensure we have a global food system that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all.”