MAHA Commission
It presents the stark reality of American children’s declining health, backed by compelling data and long-term trends. More importantly, it seeks to unpack the potential dietary, behavioral, medical, and environmental drivers behind this crisis. By examining the root causes of deteriorating child health, this assessment establishes a clear, evidence- based foundation for the policy interventions, institutional reforms , and societal shifts needed to reverse course.
To turn the tide and better protect our children , the United States must act decisively. During this administration, we will begin reversing the childhood chronic disease crisis by confronting its root causes- not just its symptoms. This means pursuing truth, embracing science, and enacting pro-growth policies and innovations to restore children’s health. Today’s children are tomorrow’s workforce, caregivers, and leaders—we can no longer afford to ignore this crisis.
After a century of costly and ineffective approaches, the federal government will lead a coordinated transformation of our food, health, and scientific systems . This strategic realignment will ensure that all Americans—today and in the future-live longer, healthier lives, supported by systems that prioritize prevention, wellbeing, and resilience.
But real transformation requires more than vision—it requires clarity. Before we act, we must fully understand the scope of the crisis, the conditions that created it, and the mechanisms through which it continues to grow. Without this foundation , interventions risk being reactive, fragmented , or ineffective.
To Make America’s Children Healthy Again, we must begin with a shared understanding of the magnitude of crisis and subsequently what’s likely driving it. This assessment provides that foundation-grounding future efforts in a common scientific basis that identifies four potential drivers behind the rise in childhood chronic disease that present the clearest opportunities for progress:
Poor Diet: The American diet has shifted dramatically toward ultra-processed foods (UPFS), 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
Overmedicalization: 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.
By examining each of these drivers, this assessment equips MAHA Commission stakeholders and partners with the facts needed to identify where and how policy interventions will likely have the most impact.
The sections that follow analyze the evidence, spotlight gaps, and map the terrain: laying the groundwork for coordinated, high-impact solutions.
