#public-health-policy

#public-health-policy

US health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr defiantly defended his controversial actions to upend public health at a Senate hearing on 4 September. Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine advocate, also made unfounded allegations about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and accused the medical establishment of corruption. What was supposed to be a routine hearing about the health care agenda of Republican President Donald Trump was anything but.

Later this month, the United Nations General Assembly will discuss a proposal to eliminate trans-fatty acids (trans fats) from diets. These fats are mainly produced industrially. They clog up arteries, increasing people's risk of a heart attack or death. Some 60 countries are already on a path to eliminating these fats and the World Health Organization has certified that 9 have removed industrially produced trans fats from their food supply.

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"The American people demanded science, safety, and common sense," he wrote. "This framework delivers all three."

Young people who vape are three times as likely to start smoking, develop asthma and have poor mental health as those who do not. The study indicates consistent links between vaping and future smoking among youth.

Among U.S. adults with any mental illness, 25 percent are current smokers—more than double the rate for those without mental illness. Patients with serious mental illness have substantially elevated smoking rates, with schizophrenia rates as high as 80 to 90 percent.

The NSDUH revealed a one-third reduction in serious thoughts of suicide among 12 to 17-year-olds, dropping from 13% to 10%, contributing to a decline in tragic outcomes.

The new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital indicates that if fluoride is banned nationwide, dental costs could surge by $9.8 billion in five years and lead to 25.4 million additional cavities in children.

Mr. Kennedy's failure to manage the measles outbreak amidst his anti-vaccine stance raises serious concerns about his capability as Health Secretary.