A new report from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission is turning heads with a stark message: American kids are getting sicker even as the U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other country.
Led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the report reveals that over 40% of U.S. children are now dealing with at least one chronic condition such as asthma, allergies, obesity, or behavioral issues. And the trend lines are not encouraging. Teen depression has nearly doubled in the last decade. Childhood cancer rates have increased by 40% since 1975. More than one in five kids over age six is now classified as obese.
The report also warns of broader consequences for national security. About 75% of young Americans aged 17 to 24 are reportedly unfit for military service, often because of medical issues like obesity or behavioral disorders.
“We now have the most obese, depressed, disabled, medicated population in the history of the world, and we cannot keep going down the same road,” said Dr. Marty Makary during a media briefing.
The report identifies several contributing factors: increased consumption of processed foods with chemical additives, reduced outdoor play, environmental exposures, and a sharp rise in prescription medication use among children.
According to the report, ADHD prescriptions have jumped 250% since 2006, while use of antidepressants and antipsychotics in children has also increased significantly.
“Today’s children are sicker, more medicated, and more overwhelmed than ever before,” said Dr. Joseph Varon, president of the Independent Medical Alliance, in a news release. “The MAHA Report does what far too few institutions have done—it tells the truth.”
A current federal health official offered a more cautious perspective, stating: “They’re looking for specific causes and silver bullets to draw attention to. However, prevention is all about making it easier for people to make healthy choices.”
David Mansdoerfer, former Deputy Assistant Secretary at HHS, told The Dallas Express that the report highlights the urgent need to rethink the nation’s approach to public health.
“We’re treating symptoms instead of addressing root causes,” he said. “If we want healthier kids, we need to invest in healthier environments such as schools, homes, and food systems that set families up for success.”
Mansdoerfer added, “This goes beyond policy. It’s about equipping parents with the tools and support they need to raise healthy children.”
The MAHA Commission’s findings have added momentum to the growing national debate over how best to support children’s health as chronic illness continues to rise.