More than half of American children are living with a chronic health condition—from obesity and diabetes to anxiety and asthma. On Tuesday, the White House unveiled a strategy aimed at reversing this crisis.
The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission delivered its strategy report to President Trump, outlining major reforms to federal health, food, and research policy. The strategy zeroes in on four key drivers of childhood illness:
- Diet: Over 60% of children’s calories now come from ultra-processed foods.
- Chemical exposures: Growing concerns over microplastics, pesticides, and additives.
- Inactivity & stress: Rising screen time, poor sleep, and chronic stress fueling both physical and mental health challenges.
- Overmedicalization: Concerns about excessive prescribing for children, especially mental health drugs.
The George Washington University has experts available to discuss this report. If you would like to schedule an interview, please contact Katelyn Deckelbaum, katelyn [dot] deckelbaum
gwu [dot] edu (katelyn[dot]deckelbaum[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Gabby Headrick is an assistant professor in the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. As a food systems dietitian, Headrick’s research, teaching, and practice center on the social, environmental, and political determinants of food and nutrition security in the United States, with a particular focus on urban food systems.
Priya Fielding-Singh is the director of Policy and Programs at the Global Food Institute, where she leads domestic policy, programming, and engagement initiatives. A trained social scientist, her expertise is in food and nutrition equity, maternal and child health, and public policy.
-GW-