A new report from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is making waves across the healthcare industry. Commissioned by President Trump in early 2025, the 68-page report explores the troubling state of children’s health in the U.S. and outlines four primary drivers of chronic disease and declining wellness among youth: poor diet, environmental toxins, sedentary lifestyles, and the overmedicalization of care.
Nutritional Challenges and Ultra-Processed Foods
The report points to the outsized role that ultra-processed foods play in the American diet, particularly among children. Nearly 70% of the average child’s caloric intake now comes from these processed options, laden with additives, preservatives, and refined sugars. The result? Soaring rates of obesity, metabolic disorders, and other diet-related chronic conditions. These trends suggest a need for major reform in school nutrition policies, family health education, and broader community interventions.
Environmental Exposures and Chemical Toxins
Chemical exposure emerged as another major concern. Children are increasingly exposed to pesticides, microplastics, industrial pollutants, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals—substances that are now commonly found in their blood and urine samples. The report emphasizes the need for stricter environmental regulations, particularly around agricultural practices, industrial emissions, and consumer product safety.
The Cost of Physical Inactivity in a Digital Age
The MAHA report also calls attention to the growing issue of physical inactivity driven by excessive screen time. With children spending more hours indoors on digital devices, physical activity has taken a back seat, contributing not only to obesity but also to mental health struggles and developmental delays. Public health campaigns, school-based fitness initiatives, and parent-focused education may all play a vital role in reversing this trend.
Overmedicalization and Pharma’s Expanding Footprint
Perhaps most controversial is the report’s focus on the overmedicalization of childhood health. Since the late 1980s, there has been a sharp rise in the use of prescription drugs, particularly antidepressants, among teens. While many children benefit from behavioral health treatments, the report suggests that pharmaceutical interventions are increasingly replacing more holistic, preventive, and psychosocial approaches. It questions whether corporate interests, especially from the pharmaceutical and food industries, have influenced the direction of pediatric care.
A Call for Change: Prevention Over Prescription
The commission has been given 80 days to develop an actionable plan aimed at realigning federal priorities toward preventive health, resilience, and long-term wellness. This includes reevaluating how the federal government regulates food quality, environmental safety, and medical prescribing practices for children.
What This Means for Healthcare Providers and Consultants
For healthcare consultants, this report reinforces the urgent need to advocate for upstream interventions, such as nutritional counseling, environmental health assessments, physical activity programs, and integrative behavioral health. It also highlights the importance of advising clients on how to navigate the delicate balance between medical treatment and prevention-based models.
Healthcare systems, school districts, and community health networks must begin to think beyond short-term fixes and toward long-term strategies that address the root causes of pediatric health decline. Providers must also remain vigilant about how external industry influences can shape care delivery, sometimes at the expense of holistic wellness.
This is a pivotal moment to help shape the future of children’s health. We must not only treat illness but also foster environments where wellness can thrive from the very beginning.