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Time of India
22-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
'Sickest generation': What the RFK Jr's report says about American children and how to 'make America healthy again'
The White House on Thursday unveiled a sweeping new report outlining a vision to 'make America healthy again,' highlighting a public health crisis among children driven by ultraprocessed foods , environmental chemicals, sedentary lifestyles, stress, and the widespread use of prescription drugs, including antidepressants. The report, spearheaded by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. through a presidential commission, does not provide specific policy solutions. Instead, it consolidates existing research and proposes further scientific studies — such as comparisons between whole foods and ultraprocessed alternatives, and investigations into how chemical exposures may influence genetics. Key points from the report: Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pare a neuropatia: descubra como NeuroFit Dire Health Landscape for U.S. Children: The report describes American children as 'the sickest generation in American history,' criticizing the government's heavy investment in treatment rather than prevention of chronic diseases like obesity, cancer, depression, and heart disease. Critique of Overmedicalization: It warns of the growing trend of 'overmedicalization' in children, blaming pharmaceutical industry influence over medical research and institutions, prioritizing profits over children's health. Live Events Kennedy's Call to Action: Kennedy described the report as an invitation to spark nuanced national dialogue. While no budget has been proposed, he argued that long-term cost savings would result from focusing on prevention. Broad Government Involvement: The report represents agreement among several federal leaders, including the heads of the EPA, USDA, FDA, and NIH. Notably absent was the CDC, which Kennedy has stripped of its role in chronic disease prevention — a function now assigned to a new entity: the Administration for a Healthy America. Deviation from Standard Public Health Approaches: While the CDC typically focuses on smoking, alcohol, poor diet, and inactivity as the main causes of chronic disease, the new commission downplays smoking and alcohol. The Trump administration has eliminated the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health and dismissed the FDA's top tobacco regulator. Focus on Processed Foods & Chemicals: The report blames America's chronic illness epidemic on ultraprocessed foods, additives, and environmental toxins — including PFAS, microplastics, fluoride, and electromagnetic radiation — urging more research into their effects on children's health. Criticism of U.S. Food Policy: The food industry is accused of prioritizing profit over nutrition. The report calls out the government's reduced support for healthy food programs and highlights how ultraprocessed foods now account for nearly 70% of American children's caloric intake. Limited Discussion on Vaccines: Vaccine safety, a signature issue for Kennedy, receives only brief mention. The report acknowledges both the benefits of vaccines and the importance of open scientific debate, while warning against the suppression of dissent. Mental Health and Medication: The report raises concerns over rising prescriptions for antidepressants, antipsychotics, and stimulants among children. It criticizes overdiagnosis of conditions like ADHD and questions the efficacy and long-term effects of such medications. Omissions in Scope: The report does not address key youth health concerns such as smoking, vaping, drug use, STDs, or gun violence — the leading cause of death for children and teens. Political Pushback: Even before its release, the report faced criticism — especially over its mention of agricultural chemicals like glyphosate. Lawmakers, including Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, warned the commission not to undermine farming practices. Kennedy assured that no immediate policy would threaten existing agricultural models. President Trump is expected to formally unveil the report at a White House event, with supporters of the 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative in attendance.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UnitedHealth tumbles as criminal probe report adds to investor fears
UnitedHealth Group shares plunged 18% on Thursday as investors fled the stock after a Wall Street Journal report that the U.S. Department of Justice was carrying out a criminal investigation into the company for potential Medicare fraud . The reported probe adds to a string of recent setbacks for the healthcare conglomerate that has erased more than half, or over $300 billion, from its market value since November, when shares were trading at record highs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pare a neuropatia: descubra como NeuroFit On Thursday, UnitedHealth's shares hit a five-year low of $248.92 and dragged down the Dow Jones Industrial Average index . The company is the worst-performing Dow component so far this year. "The stock is already in the doghouse with investors, and additional uncertainty will only pile on," said James Harlow, senior vice president at Novare Capital Management, which owns shares in UnitedHealth. The news of the probe follows CEO Andrew Witty's abrupt departure and the withdrawal of its 2025 forecast, which triggered an 18% drop in shares to a four-year low on Tuesday. Live Events "UnitedHealth Group is mired in a crisis seemingly without end. Investors are bracing for another big bout of turbulence given reports of the DOJ investigation," said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown. UnitedHealth said it had not been notified of the investigation by the DoJ. The WSJ in February also reported a civil fraud investigation into UnitedHealth's Medicare practices, which the company had at that time said it was not aware of. The health insurance industry, as well as drug middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers, has increasingly come under government and public scrutiny. For decades, the company has flourished by leveraging its dominance in insurance and growth in the Medicare market, the U.S. government program that covers medical costs for the elderly. The focus now turns to its next steps. The company has tapped former CEO Stephen Hemsley to replace Witty, becoming the latest company to turn to an experienced executive to take the helm, in the hopes of quelling investor concerns amid economic uncertainty. Despite recent adversities, Oppenheimer analyst Michael Wiederhorn maintained that the company's fundamentals are solid, though he acknowledged that "it may take time to win back the marketplace's confidence."
