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Human and Health Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released a long-awaited report Thursday, warning of a national health crisis affecting American children, citing surging rates of chronic illness linked to diet, chemicals, prescription drugs, and sedentary lifestyles.
The findings, read aloud by President Donald Trump, reveal that over 40% of US children now suffer from at least one chronic illness – a threat Kennedy said extends to national defense, with 74% of young Americans deemed unfit for military service.
Childhood cancer rates have climbed to nearly 50%, and childhood obesity has skyrocketed to 20%, up from just 5% in the 1960s.
Kennedy vowed to release a full strategy within 100 days to combat chronic disease, which will likely include tighter restrictions on what foods can be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and a major overhaul of federal dietary guidelines.
“What you’re going to see is a whole new day on dietary guidelines, where federal nutrition advice will be sound, it will be simple, and it will be clear,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, pledging a return to “whole, healthy, and nutritious foods.”
The report also highlights growing concern over the overprescription of antibiotics, antidepressants, and weight-loss drugs for children, and calls for further research into potential harms.
Earlier this week, RFK defended Trump’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization, calling the agency bloated and politically compromised.
“We’re going to make healthcare in the United States serve the needs of the public, instead of industry profit-taking,” by “removing food dyes and other harmful additives from our food supply,” he said at the time. “We’re investigating the causes of autism and other chronic diseases. We’re seeking to reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods, and we’re going to support lifestyle changes that will bolster the immune systems and transform the health of our people.”
