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President-elect Donald Trumpthe appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has raised many questions about the future of health care in the United States. After all, Trump had already promised to let Kennedy “go wild“on “health”, “food” and “medicines”.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “MAHA” swirling around all of RFK Jr.’s nominations. MAHA has become a big platform for Kennedy over the past few months, and it’s understandable to have questions now that he will likely be confirmed for a major role.

But what is MAHA and what does it offer? Here’s the deal.

Meet the expert: Spencer Nadolsky, D.O.doctor specializing in obesity and lipids.

What does MAHA mean?

MAHA is an acronym for “Make America Healthy Again.” This is a pun on MAGA (“Make American Great Again”), which was the hallmark of Trump’s campaigns.

What does MAHA offer?

MAHA and RFK Jr. have many proposals in different areas of health care, but some are clearer than others. Here’s what you need to know right now:

Chronic disease

Kennedy plans to combat an “epidemic” of chronic diseases in the United States, including “obesity, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, autism, cancer and mental illness.” (Some of these, like autism, are not considered chronic illnesses in the medical community.)

“These diseases cause untold misery and drain the vitality of our country’s economy,” he wrote on the MAHA website. “Chronic diseases cost the economy more than $4 trillion a year and even eclipse defense as a major drain on the federal budget. »

Kennedy plans to “reorient federal health agencies” to focus on chronic diseases and “rid them of the influence of big pharmaceutical companies,” according to the site. He promised to do it within “two years”, he said. said during a campaign stop.

Processed foods

According to the MAHA website, Kennedy plans to “ban the hundreds of food additives and chemicals that other countries have already banned.” (Note: this is something that involves many legislators, not just one person.)

“It will change regulations, research topics and subsidies to reduce the dominance of ultra-processed foods,” the website adds.

Many food industry groups have expressed support for increased control of chemicals in food, hoping it would offset confusing state-by-state restrictions, according to CBS.

Vaccines

Vaccines have been an important topic for RFK Jr., who has expressed anti-vax views in the past. In 2023, he declared on the Lex Friedman podcastst that “there is no safe and effective vaccine”. He is currently on leave from his role as president of the anti-vaccine group Child health advocacywho repeated the demystified claim that childhood vaccines cause autism.

But Kennedy said NPR at the beginning of November, that “we are not going to take vaccines away from anyone”. Instead, he says “we’re going to make sure Americans have good information about vaccines and their safety.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the vast majority of the medical community emphasize that vaccines are safe and effective in preventing serious illness. .

Fluoride

Kennedy also expressed concerns about the public health practice of add fluoride to drinking water. In case you don’t know him, fluoride is a mineral that strengthens teeth and reduces the risk of cavities. It has been added to public drinking water since (1945 to reduce the risk of tooth decay in children.

But Kennedy told NPR that fluoride should be eliminated from drinking water. “Now we have fluoride in toothpaste,” he said. In another interview with the outlet, Kennedy said this: “We don’t need fluoride in our water. This is a very bad way to introduce it into our systems.

Please note: the practice of adding fluoride to water is decided in a concerted manner. state and local level…not at the federal level. The practice of adding fluoride to drinking water is named by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.

Prescription medications

Kennedy has repeatedly expressed his disgust with pharmaceutical companies, suggesting that many medical treatments are only commonplace thanks to the pharmaceutical industry.

Kennedy threatened the FDA in late October Xsaying the federal agency is responsible for “the aggressive suppression of psychedelics, peptides, stem cells, raw milk, hyperbaric therapies, chelating compounds, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, vitamins, foods cleanliness, sun, exercise, nutraceuticals and everything that advances humanity. health and cannot be patented by Pharma.

(Health Experts warn that raw milk can be extremely dangerous. Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine have both been touted by anti-vaxxers as alternative treatments for COVID-19but I have not whose effectiveness has been scientifically proven to fight infectious diseases.)

Kennedy also called for a “review” of the guidelines that govern pharmaceutical company advertising and an overhaul of the advertising system. Prescription Drug User Fees Actwhich charges pharmaceutical companies so that the FDA can review proposed new drugs. Canceling the fee could pass that bill onto taxpayers.

“We must end corruption. 50% of the FDA’s budget comes not from the taxpayer, but from the pharmaceutical industry,” he said. said on September 26.

The environment

Kennedy has a history to work on environmental issues. MAHA claims it will “clean toxic chemicals from our air, water and soil.”

The website also states that “it will ensure that research on pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides, additives and environmental chemicals is scientifically unbiased.”

What is happening now?

It’s not clear. Kennedy’s nomination must still be confirmed by the House and Senate, but will likely be approved.

While there are many fears surrounding the MAHA platform, it’s important to consider both sides, says Spencer Nadolsky, D.O.doctor specializing in obesity and lipids.

“The concept of improving our food environment, which has been a major talking point for MAHA, is great,” he says. “I don’t know of any healthcare professional who is not in favor of improving the nutrition of everyone in the United States.”

However, there are serious drawbacks to take into account. “There are, however, some concerns around other topics of discussion within the MAHA movement,” says Nadolsky. “This includes promoting raw milk and other potentially harmful ideas to the public. Hopefully we can stick to what we know helps people, which is improving our eating habits.

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