Members of the Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services convened yesterday to discuss the impact of poor diets and increased medication use on American children. The hearing, titled “Better Meals, Fewer Pills: Making Our Children Healthy Again,” focused on how unhealthy eating habits and overprescription are affecting youth health outcomes.
Dr. Dorothy Fink, Acting Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services, addressed the committee about rising rates of prediabetes and excess weight among children. She stated, “As children grow, they are exposed to unprecedented levels of processed foods that are high in sugar and chemical additives. The results are devastating. Approximately 32 percent of adolescents in the U.S. have prediabetes, and furthermore, 36 percent of children and adolescents have excess weight. Furthermore, American girls are reaching puberty earlier and boys are experiencing declining testosterone levels and reduced sperm counts compared with previous generations. These trends may be linked to diet, obesity, and environmental exposures, and they demand immediate investigation.”
Dr. Eve Stoody from the U.S. Department of Agriculture noted that dietary quality among young people is low. “Unfortunately, the state of the American diet is poor. This poor diet has resulted in worsening health outcomes among children and adolescents, which have contributed to increased rates of chronic disease. The Healthy Eating Index, or HEI, is an analytic tool that has been developed by USDA and HHS that measures the quality of the overall diet. HEI scores can range from 0 to 100, with a score of 100 indicating alignment with a healthy diet. The average HEI score for children and adolescents two to 18 years of age is a 54 out of 100. Among the top sources of calories in the American diet are desserts and sweet snacks, sugar sweetened beverages, and chips and savory snacks. These foods illustrate that the American diet is high in added sugars and refined grains. Regarding added sugars, Americans consume about 270 calories, and that comes to about 17 teaspoons of added sugars a day, and intakes can vary substantially.”
The hearing also explored concerns about overdiagnosis in mental health care for youth.
Dr. Fink explained: “The mental health crisis among adolescents has led to increasing use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, despite the [Food and Drug Administration]’s 2004 black box warning noting an elevated risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people. While these medications have benefits, they must be paired with careful monitoring and expanded access to nonpharmacologic interventions and adolescents that address the underlying causes of depression and anxiety. Today we stand at a crossroads. The chronic disease epidemic in our children is the defining public health crisis of our time.”
Subcommittee Chairman Glenn Grothman asked Dr. Fink about food quality issues contributing to unhealthy diets.
“Do you think the problem is the lack of calories here?” Grothman asked.
“It is multifactorial most definitely,” Dr. Fink replied.“And so food plays a huge role in our health.And that is why we are currently working on the dietary guidelines and ensuring that they are based on gold standard scientific evidence so that every American family across America knows the best foods.And furthermore they can take steps to reverse their chronic diseases.”
Grothman also raised questions about increased pharmaceutical use among youth.
“Dr.Fink,could you comment a little on the massive increase on pharmaceuticals going to young people today? And are you working at HHS or FDA working to study the impacts on this massive increase in pharmaceuticals our young children are having?”
Dr.Fink responded:“Thank you,Congressman for your question.Absolutely.Our children’s youth are now more than ever receiving way too many medications instead of focusing on lifestyle changes first which means focusing on what we were here today to focus on which is fewer pillsand better meals.When you think about mental health,we have our children’s youth survey that comes outof Departmentof Healthand Human Servicesofchildren who experience mental healthand behavioral health conditionsover half receive medicationsfor these conditions.We needto look attreatment regimenswe havereally needto workwith familiesworkwith schoolsto thinkabout whatare root causesofthese conditions.”
Rep.Pete Sessions discussed ultra-processed foods with Dr.Stoody.
Sessions asked,“What are some examplesof ultra processed foods? Whereare these found? Is it somethingthat afamily does? Is it taughtin schools?What is ultra-processed food?”
Dr.Stoody answered,“Ultra processed foodsis reallya topicthat’s grownin discussions,I would sayin last decade there’s beenalotof research.Oneofthe prime definitionshas beenusedin researchis onefrom Brazil,and it’s called NOVA.The waythatfoodsare categorizedwithinthat systemandsimilar systemsis levelof processingthey undergo,whether theyhave additivesflavorings thingslike thatcolorings.Thereare considerationsaroundaddedsugarsadded fats salt.So thereareanumberof definitions,somethat are primary.You know,NOVA notedwas primary one.Therehas beendiscussionthatsome definitionsarereally broadandthey’re includingthings like… Ithink alotof uswhen wethinkof ultraprocessedfoods thingslike sodasorcandy arereally frontof mindandthey’re pretty generally agreedupon asultra processedfoods.Buttherearesomethingslike wholegrain productslikeyogurtlike bagsaladsorcanned vegetablesthat there’squestions like‘should thosebe includedinthat largerdefinitionofultra processedfoods?’”
Rep.John McGuire questionedthe link between sedentary lifestylesand childhealth statistics.
“Ourchildren arenotas healthy asthey once wereorshould be.Dr.Finkin your opinion doeslivinginasedentary lifestyle contribute tothelikelihoodofa childbeing includedinoneoftheprevious statisticsI mentioned?”
Dr.Fink:“Yes.”
McGuire continued,“And Dr.Finkhow doesasedentary lifestyleimpactmentalhealth?”
Dr.Fink said,“Thereareso many factors,but whenourchildren’syoutharetiedtoascreen alldaylongandthey’renot beingactive,theybuildup offatin their bodies,right?You’re not eating right.You’re not active as bodyweight.Throughexcessbodyweight,you startmaking extrahormonesandyouhaveallsortsmetabolic impactsthatimpacteveryaspectofyoursbodyincludingthe developingbrain.Andso wemostdefinitely wanttomakeconsiderationsforhowwecangetourkidsactivewhichisas yousaidbringingbackthe presidential fitness testandjustreally challengingfamiliesbecomeactiveisthewayweneedtogo.”
McGuire also asked Dr.Stoodyabout problems causedby ultra-processedfoodconsumptionamongchildren.
“Ithinkit’sreallyaroundtheover consumptionofultraprocessedfoods,andtherehasbeenresearchthatsuggestsandkindsoftrieslookatwhatarethosemechanisms.Therehavebeenstudiessuggestingthatoverconsumptionconsumptionofultraprocessedfoodshavebeenassociatedwithhigherbodyweight,increasedriskofdifferentriskfactorsassociatedwithdisease.Thereareanumberreasonswhythatmaybe.Isitbecausethey’rehighinaddedsugars?Addedoraddedfat?Addedsodium?Isitbecausethey’relowinfiber?Isitbecausetheyaredisplacinghealthyfoodsinthediet?Ithinkit’sprobablyamanydifferentthings,butwedoseearelationshipbetweenoverconsumptionandriskincludinginchildhood.”
Congressional members indicated support for advancing President Trump’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative as part of efforts aimed at improving child health outcomes nationwide.
James Comer currently serves as a member of Congress representing Kentucky’s 1st district since replacing Ed Whitfield in 2016 (https://comer.house.gov/about). He previously served in Kentucky’s House from 2001 until 2012 (https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C001108). Comer was born in Carthage,Tennessee,in1972,and resides in Tompkinsville; he graduated from Western Kentucky University with a BS degree.
