• Posted May 23, 2025

White House Report Blames Toxins, Food and Screens for Poor Health

FRIDAY, May 23, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A new White House report says today’s children are the sickest generation in U.S. history when it comes to chronic disease, and it puts the blame on environmental toxins, poor nutrition and too much screen time.

Called the "MAHA Report: Making Our Children Healthy Again," the report was released Thursday by top Trump administration officials, including U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

“These preventable trends continue to worsen each year, posing a threat to our nation’s health, economy, and military readiness," it warned.

President Donald Trump voiced support for the efforts during a MAHA event at the White House. MAHA is an acronym that means Make America Healthy Again.

“Unlike other administrations, we will not be silenced or intimidated by the corporate lobbyists or special interests, and I want this group to do what they have to do,” Trump said. “It won’t be nice or won’t be pretty, but we have to do it.”

Kennedy likened the report to a "diagnosis" of the causes of the nation's poor health. He said a "prescription" to address them would come in August.

The report lists several causes for concern: Childhood obesity, mental health and overreliance on prescription drugs. It also raises doubts about the current childhood vaccine schedule and claims there is “limited scientific inquiry into vaccine injury and potential links to chronic disease.”

But some scientists say the report overstates or contains misleading scientific findings, The Washington Post reported.

For example, the report notes that most breastmilk samples tested in the U.S. contain small amounts of persistent chemicals known as PFAS. 

But the scientific source cited with that claim says this finding should “not indicate that adverse health effects will occur and should not be interpreted as a reason to not breastfeed.”

At Thursday's briefing, Kennedy claimed that prescription drugs are the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. But U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data list accidents at No. 3, including car crashes, falls and overdoses, The Post said.

Gun violence, which the CDC listed as the No. 1 cause of death for children and teens in 2020 and 2021, is not mentioned in the 73-page report.

Nutrition and chemicals

The report criticizes the rise in ultra-processed foods and promotes whole food diets. Nutrition expert Marion Nestle praised this part of the report, calling it "a devastating portrait of what American society has done to children.”

Kennedy, meanwhile, has long blamed pesticides, The Post noted, for the rise in chronic illness.

While some parts of the report question the safety of chemicals like glyphosate and atrazine on human health, the report defends American farmers. Many viewed the expected attack on pesticide use as a threat to their livelihood.

Said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin: "American farmers are critical partners in the success of the Make America Healthy Again agenda."

Medication

The report also questions the long-term use of antidepressants, weight-loss medications and other drugs in children, warning they may have lasting effects on growth and even mental health.

But critics say the report ignores studies showing these medications can be helpful when used correctly.

Obesity expert Dr. Melanie Jay of NYU Langone Health in New York City said not treating obesity early in life can be more harmful than using approved medications, The Post reported.

Vaccines

The report also expresses concern about the number of vaccines given to children and whether they may be linked to chronic disease. Health secretary Kennedy is a long-time vaccine skeptic.

Jason Schwartz, a vaccine expert at Yale University, said there is no strong biological evidence that vaccines could be overwhelming the immune system.

Screen time

The report blames use of screens — from TVs and computers to cell phones, tablets and video games — for rising mental health issues in kids, The Post said. 

While some experts agree screen time plays a role, others say the report leans more on theory than actual science.

Dr. Jenny Radesky of the American Academy of Pediatrics told The Post the report raises valuable points about the need for good sleep but focused more on "pop theory, like a rewiring of a generation" instead of a rigorous scientific evaluation of screen time.

She said its focus "reflects their understanding of how worried American families are about this."

More information

Learn more about the White House's Make America Healthy Again initiative.

SOURCE: The Washington Post, May 22, 2025