logo
RFK Jr's bonkers plan to fit every American with a tracking device as he hunts for causes of cancer, autism

RFK Jr's bonkers plan to fit every American with a tracking device as he hunts for causes of cancer, autism

Daily Mail​6 hours ago

Robert F Kennedy Jr wants to fit all Americans with a tracking device within the next four years.
The Health and Human Services secretary revealed his plans during a House hearing yesterday, saying the devices — like Apple Watch, Fitbit, Whoop and Oura ring — were 'key to the MAHA agenda'.
He said the technology could help people lose weight and exercise more regularly, as well as 'take control of their health' and encourage 'good judgements about their diets, about their physical activity, about the way that they live their lives.'
In an effort to get a smartwatch, ring or monitor on every American, RFK Jr said he is planning to launch 'one of the biggest' advertising campaigns in history to encourage more people to wear the devices — which range from $99 to nearly $800.
The health secretary said officials were 'exploring' how the government could pay for the devices for some Americans.
It is the latest proposal in his Make America Healthy Again mission, and comes amid his vow to find the cause of - and solve - the rising rates of cancer, chronic disease and autism in young people.
But some commentators called the move unusual for the health secretary, who has previously railed against a 'surveillance state'.
RFK Jr revealed his plans to the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee yesterday, saying: 'We think that wearables are a key to the MAHA agenda, Making America Healthy Again.
'It's a way people can take control over their own health... they can see what food is doing to their glucose levels, their heart rates and a number of other metrics as they eat.
'And they can begin to make good judgements about their diet, about their physical activity, about the way that they live their lives.'
Asked about whether the federal government might fund the devices, he added: 'You know the Ozempic is costing $1,300 a month.
'If you can achieve the same thing with an $80 wearable, it's a lot better for the American people.
'We're exploring ways of making sure that those costs can be paid for.'
Latest surveys suggest that more than 40 percent of American adults, equivalent to 103million people, already use a wearable device - about the same percentage of Americans struggling with obesity.
There are more than 38 brands and hundreds of devices to choose from on the market, ranging from $99 to $800 as a one-time purchase to more than $200 per year on a subscription model.
They include watches, rings, and glucose monitor devices that are injected into a user's skin and remain in place for up to 15 days.
Many doctors heap praise on wearables, which can track exercise, heart rate, sleep and steps, saying they may help inspire people to take control of their health.
Posting his idea on X, RFK Jr received mixed responses on the proposal.
Some were supportive, calling it a 'great idea' and saying that it would 'not only save lives, it will continue to save countless dollars and preserve quality of life'.
But others reacted angrily to the suggestion, with one writing: 'You used to rage about these very subjects — you even made money speaking against EMFs, biometric surveillance, 5G, health privacy and so on.
'Now you're wh***** for it as though having a wearable 5G biometric surveillance device strapped to our bodies at all times feeding data to God knows who is an amazing, healthy thing.'
RFK Jr has previously claimed electromagnetic radiation — which is released by the devices in very lower levels — can cause 'neurological damage' and trigger 'cellular damage and even cancer,' though the FDA refutes these claims.
Another public health official, Surgeon General Casey Means, has also praised wearables, calling them the 'most powerful technology for generating the data and awareness to rectify our bad energy crisis in the Western world'.
Means is regularly pictured with a large gold ring on her index finger, which has a similar appearance to the Oura ring - a wearable that costs up to $549.
She is also the co-founder of a company, Levels, that sells continuous glucose monitors and other wearable health trackers. Customers are asked to subscribe to the service for $199 per year to receive the trackers.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Chuck Schumer rushed to the hospital amid DC heatwave
Chuck Schumer rushed to the hospital amid DC heatwave

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Chuck Schumer rushed to the hospital amid DC heatwave

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was rushed to the hospital for dehydration as scorching temperatures in Washington, D.C., reach 100 degrees. The senator, 74, was at the Senate gym in the morning and reportedly 'got lightheaded,' according to his office. The top Democrat was taken to the hospital 'out of an abundance of caution,' his office continued in a statement. He's now back to work at the Capitol after being treated for dehydration. Over 170 million Americans are roasting under a giant heat dome that is sending temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the eastern U.S. AccuWeather is calling this the first widespread heat wave of the year, with 25 states falling under this 'record-challenging' event. The average age of government leaders has been highly scrutinized in recent months as members of Congress of both political parties have experienced health scares, with some dying in office. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, 83, fell back in February and was subsequently seen using a wheelchair. He also experienced a fall in December of 2024 which resulted in a sprained wrist. Also back in December, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 85, fell during a trip to Luxembourg, and subsequently underwent hip replacement surgery. Virginia Democrat Congressman Gerry Connolly died at the age of 75 last month, shortly after sharing that he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Over the past 14 months, five other Democratic members of Congress also died while serving out their terms. Connolly's colleague Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas) died at the age of 70 in March from unknown reasons. His passing came amid reports he was battling cancer in his jaw since before election in November 2024.

NBA players seem to tear their Achilles more frequently nowadays. Why is that?
NBA players seem to tear their Achilles more frequently nowadays. Why is that?

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

NBA players seem to tear their Achilles more frequently nowadays. Why is that?

Kevin Durant and Tyrese Haliburton entered their respective NBA Finals elimination games with strained right calves. Each wound up leaving early with torn right Achilles tendons. Durant, a perennial All-Star and the league's 2014 MVP, missed the whole next season as he recovered from the injury and now Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers ' two-time All-Star, could face a similar fate. Predictable? Perhaps. Both knew the risks when they opted to chase a championship, and both wound up paying the price when their tendons gave out on pro basketball's biggest stage. 'There's no question you're at a higher risk of worsening an injury or another injury occurring because maybe your gait is off a little bit or the muscle firing isn't as good,' said Dr. Kevin Farmer, an orthopedic surgeon and chief of sports medicine at the University of Florida. 'To Tyrese's credit, maybe he wasn't as healthy as he wanted to be, but he was willing to go out there and try to perform to win that championship for the team. "He made a decision to take that risk, and I think there should be some credit there for trying.' Haliburton's injury reflects a new trend, though, one that has seen younger players become more susceptible to Achilles injuries that were traditionally more prevalent in athletes in their mid to late 30s and early 40s. Haliburton, 25, Boston Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum, 27, and Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Damian Lillard, 34, all suffered Achilles injuries in the playoffs and each is expected to miss most if not all of next season. Farmer and Dr. James Borchers, president and CEO of the U.S. Council for Athletes Health and a longtime team physician for Ohio State football, have studied the changes. They attribute the increase in Achilles injuries to many factors from low-cut shoes to longer seasons to Fluoroquinolone, a class of antibiotics both acknowledge has been tied to ruptured tendons. Neither has examined Haliburton, Tatum or Lillard. But they believe the biggest factor may be younger athletes shedding the multi-sport label to specialize in a single sport year-round, creating more wear and tear on specific body parts, such as elbows and Achilles tendons, that are prone to break down based on workload. 'Athletes that are doing a a lot impact — so certainly jumping and putting a lot of stress across tendons — and those tendons over time can develop into micro damage and lead to weakening in the tendon,' Borchers said. 'I think there's a lot more activity that increases the risk of these types of injuries and it's the wear and tear. It's very rare we're going to look at an otherwise healthy tendon rupture just rupture because of an acute event." It's not conjecture, either. Multiple studies from Farmer's medical team at Florida have researched whether today's overuse injuries in baseball occur because players are throwing harder for longer periods. Farmer said he considers the Achilles tendon in basketball to be comparable to the elbow in baseball. 'Instead of athletes getting (Achilles injuries) in their 30s or 40s because of wear and tear, we're seeing it now early on because of the excessive stress they've developed their whole lives,' Farmer said. 'I really think we're going to find out at some point that the way we've changed (youth sports), the risk, is why we're seeing these younger athletes injured.' The image of Haliburton crashing to the ground and agonizingly slapping the court in frustration may wind up as the most indelible image out of this year's NBA Finals. But he's already said he doesn't regret playing, and, like Durant, he doesn't intend to let that moment become the defining moment of his career. Instead, he plans to follow the example of Durant and others in the ever-expanding world of players who have overcome serious injuries to continue playing elite ball. The good news for Haliburton: Medical technology is helping athletes make quicker, more thorough recoveries. While a standard timetable for a return from Achilles injuries remains about 12 months, some NFL players have made it back in as few as nine and in 2023, former New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers tried to do the unthinkable by returning for a playoff run less than four months after tearing his Achilles. Rodgers might have tried it — had the Jets been in the playoff hunt. Nobody expects Haliburton, Tatum or Lillard to push it that quickly, especially in a sport where running and jumping are so essential. Even Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has said he doesn't expect Haliburton to play next season. Durant didn't return from his June 2019 injury until December 2020. And at least Haliburton and Tatum have one big advantage — age is on their side. 'The intensity and attention to rehabilitation is fantastic and you're also talking about world-class athletes who sometimes recover differently from average individuals,' Borchers said. 'We've seen some really amazing individuals come back from these injuries and with the expertise in rehab and recovery and the work they're putting in, it's pretty amazing to see them come back sooner than what the textbook might say. And there's a big difference between (age) 25 and 39 or 40." ___

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store