Health
RFK Jr.’s top health and wellness priorities as doctors share input
With the Thursday confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the spotlight is on the new secretary’s plans to “Make America Healthy Again.”
“The future of public health is about to change forever,” Kennedy’s team wrote in an email announcing his confirmation. “This is a turning point for our nation. With RFK Jr. at the helm, the battle for accountability and real health reform is just getting started.”
Also on Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission, which will be led by Kennedy, Fox News Digital exclusively learned.
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Here are some of the key issues and policies the commission plans to focus on, along with doctors’ insights.
Reforming food policy
Many doctors — including Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert — believe that food is the “root cause of chronic disease.”
From left: Neil Gorsuch, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court; President Donald Trump; actress Cheryl Hines, wife of RFK Jr.; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS); and his children Kyra and Kathleen, during a ceremony in the White House on Feb. 13, 2025. (Jason C. Andrew/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Kennedy understands that fixing the food system is a priority,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Americans should expect policies to increase access to real, whole foods, counter corporate lobbying, and make nutrition a cornerstone of healthcare.”
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“If Americans stopped consuming nutrient-deficient, ultra-processed junk laden with sugar, we wouldn’t need a drug like Ozempic to compensate for poor dietary discipline,” the doctor also said. “Remember, aside from the rare exception, a leaner body is always a healthier body.”
“Kennedy understands that fixing the food system is a priority.”
Dr. Dino Prato, oncologist and owner of Envita Medical Centers in Arizona, also emphasized Kennedy’s focus on food quality and safety.
“Kennedy’s focus on promoting healthier food choices could lead to reforms in food policy, such as updating dietary guidelines to reflect the importance of whole foods, limiting the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, and supporting local and sustainable food systems,” he told Fox News Digital.
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Kennedy’s emphasis on clean food aligns with a “growing public concern” about the impact of processed foods and environmental toxins on health, Prato noted.
“By promoting cleaner food standards and a shift toward sustainable, whole food-based dietary guidelines, we aim to address chronic diseases at their roots.”
Improving healthcare access
The MAHA Commission aims to expand health coverage and treatment options “for beneficial lifestyle changes and disease prevention,” Fox News Digital has learned.
“Kennedy’s support for value-based care models could lead to more efficient and cost-effective healthcare delivery, improving access to care for underserved populations,” Prato told Fox News Digital. “This will also incentivize the development of innovative and more affordable healthcare solutions.”
President Donald Trump, actress Cheryl Hines and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new secretary of Health and Human Services, during a ceremony in the White House on Feb. 13, 2025. At right, RFK Jr. is seen doing pull-ups as part of his AmericaMoves challenge. (Getty Images; RFK Jr. campaign)
Prato also predicts a renewed focus on “integrative medicine,” which combines therapies and lifestyle changes.
“Kennedy’s personal experience with integrative medicine could lead to increased support for and greater access to alternative and complementary therapies, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing reliance on pharmaceuticals,” he said.
More accountability for pharma companies
Kennedy’s focus on holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for potential vaccine side effects could lead to greater safety measures for patients, according to Prato.
“This increased scrutiny may incentivize companies to conduct more rigorous and transparent clinical trials,” he told Fox News Digital.
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Emily Austin, TV personality and clean beauty brand owner in New York City, agreed that people are getting “more and more dependent on drugs and procedures that profit organizations and corporations.”
Osborn reiterated that the pharmaceutical industry generates profit by managing disease, not preventing it.
“Kennedy intends to challenge this model, starting with transparency in drug pricing while exposing conflicts of interest and the revolving door between regulatory agencies and industry executives,” he told Fox News Digital.
“This increased scrutiny may incentivize companies to conduct more rigorous and transparent clinical trials.”
Kennedy will push to break the ties between government agencies and pharmaceutical giants, Osborn predicted.
“Expect reforms in clinical trial transparency, a crackdown on direct-to-consumer drug advertising, and a stronger emphasis on disease prevention rather than symptom management.”
Restoring medical freedoms
While some lawmakers have expressed concerns about Kennedy’s vaccine views, the incoming secretary has vowed not to take away anyone’s access to vaccines, but rather provide them with access to “good science.”
“Medical decisions – like surgery — should be rooted in informed consent, not blind compliance,” Osborn said.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., joined by his wife Cheryl Hines and his family, is sworn in as secretary of Health and Human Services by Associate Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch in the Oval Office at the White House, Feb. 13, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“Kennedy’s is not an ‘anti-vax’ position, but a pro-transparency, pro-science position. Patients deserve full access to data, risk-benefit analysis, and the ability to choose what is injected into their bodies without coercion or censorship.”
The pandemic exposed “glaring issues” in our public health infrastructure, Osborn said, and he believes Kennedy will address those head on.
“Kennedy’s message is clear: Your health is your responsibility.”
“The goal is not to abolish vaccines – national vaccine programs have been around for decades, and they work — but to restore trust by eliminating the profit-driven conflicts of interest that have eroded credibility.”
“Americans should be able to ask questions without being silenced or ridiculed.”
Advocating for physical activity
RFK Jr. has regularly shared videos of his rigorous gym workouts on social media, including some with Ike Catcher, a bodyweight training influencer.
Osborn refers to exercise as “the forgotten prescription,” blaming physical inactivity as one of the strongest predictors of chronic disease.
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“Our system prioritizes pharmaceutical interventions over lifestyle changes that actually address the root cause,” he said. “In this context, RFK will push for initiatives that reinforce movement as medicine.”
Promoting personal accountability
The appointment of RFK Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services marks a “major shift” in American healthcare, according to Osborn.
“Kennedy’s approach rejects top-down mandates and bureaucratic interference,” he said. “Instead, he focuses on personal accountability.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is seen doing leg presses as part of his AmericaMoves challenge. (RFK Jr. Campaign)
The current healthcare system profits from disease rather than preventing it, Osborn noted.
“For too long, we’ve been stuck in a passive disease management system that treats symptoms instead of addressing the root causes of illness,” he said.
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“Kennedy’s message is clear: Your health is your responsibility. The government won’t fix it. Your doctor won’t fix it. Big pharma certainly won’t fix it. It’s on you.”
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Health
Parasitic infection causing ‘explosive’ stomach illness exceeds 1,000 cases in northern state
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Cases of cyclosporiasis infections are rising across America, with more than 1,000 people diagnosed in Michigan and more than 500 in Ohio.
This is the largest outbreak of its kind in Michigan’s history and one of the country’s largest in years, according to the Associated Press.
The parasitic infection can cause weeks of watery diarrhea. The source of the infections has not been identified and no deaths have been reported.
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Michigan officials announced the outbreak last week following the identification of more than 170 cases since June 22 in the southeastern part of the state. Typically, only about 50 cases are identified in Michigan each year, according to AP.
A cyclospora infection often causes watery, “explosive” diarrhea that can last for weeks or even months if left untreated, the CDC says. (iStock)
Similar illnesses have been reported in 28 other states, including neighboring Ohio, where diagnoses have popped up across the Michigan border.
Cases have been climbing since the CDC identified an uptick in infections in mid-June, with illnesses now reported in dozens of states.
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Michigan has now reported more than 1,200 cases and at least 40 hospitalizations. In Ohio, northwest counties have identified more than 500 cases, including at least 306 in Lucas County, according to the latest available local figures.
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Texas has reported at least 48 cases, and illnesses have been identified in numerous other states as health officials investigate the source.
The hallmark symptom of a cyclospora infection is watery, often “explosive” diarrhea that can last for weeks or even months if left untreated, the CDC says.
Other symptoms of cyclosporiasis include severe abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue and significant weight loss. (iStock)
Other symptoms include severe abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue and significant weight loss.
The official outbreak season for the parasite runs from May 1 through Aug. 31, a window where warmer temperatures historically coincide with a spike in infections, according to the CDC.
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While the infection can sometimes clear up on its own, it frequently requires antibiotics. The CDC advises anyone experiencing symptoms of cyclosporiasis to contact a healthcare provider for testing and treatment.
The CDC, alongside the Food and Drug Administration and state health officials, is actively investigating several multistate clusters, but they have yet to find a cause behind the spread.
Fresh produce should be washed thoroughly before eating, although this may not eliminate the risk of infection, the AP noted. (iStock)
Past infections have reportedly been linked to consuming contamined fruits or vegetables, or being exposed to contaminated irrigation water.
Fresh produce should be washed thoroughly before being eaten, although this may not eliminate the risk of infection, the AP noted.
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Michigan officials recommend purchasing salad mixes or whole heads of lettuce instead of pre-washed, bagged lettuce. Remove two to three leaves from the outer layer of the lettuce head before washing and cook vegetables when possible.
Fox News Digital’s Khloe Quill contributed to this report.
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Washington, DC – GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have become a prevalent part of American healthcare, and the current administration is getting behind the movement.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital at the Great American State Fair in the nation’s capital on July 6, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz voiced his support for the use of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications, such as Ozempic, for appropriate uses.
“I’m a fan of GLP-1 drugs when used correctly,” he said. “They do help people who are overweight lose weight quite effectively. They’re not a replacement for diet and exercise, but they might jumpstart the system so it’s easier for you to use healthier tactics.”
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This is especially helpful for those who may have trouble moving due to joint pain or are experiencing internal dysfunction, Oz said.
Certain GLP-1 drugs are covered by Medicare for overweight candidates with certain conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and Oz projected the benefits will continue to benefit taxpayers.
Dr. Mehmet Oz is pictured in Washington, D.C., at the Great American State Fair, where he spoke about federal health policy. (Angelica Stabile/Fox News Digital)
“We believe these are so effective in reducing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes that they’ll actually save money for the federal taxpayer, because [they’re] going to make you healthy enough that you don’t have to consume health services,” Oz said.
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“We think about 70% of all the money we spend on healthcare is caused by chronic conditions, and obesity is the No. 1 driver of all that, so it’s a smart decision.”
Oz recently announced the launch of the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, which will allow more seniors to access GLP-1 drugs for only $50 a month if they meet qualifying health criteria and receive prior authorization from a doctor.
The doctor expressed support for broadening affordable access to GLP-1 medications for Americans. (iStock)
“There are a lot of overweight people who don’t have high blood pressure, diabetes or other conditions, so they don’t get access to the drug normally,” he said. “We want them to have the ability to use it as well.”
Although these access shifts could boost Americans’ overall health — and in some cases could be lifesaving — Oz noted that there is “no silver bullet” when it comes to these medications.
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“I love the fact that the innovation that’s coming out of pharmaceutical companies is allowing us to save lives and make lives better,” he said. “But the real secret to longevity is eating right, exercising, sleeping, dealing with the stress of your life, finding some purpose in your existence [and] realizing you have agency over the future.”
“These are things that your mom would have told you [and that] you don’t need a doctor to be emphasizing.”
Medicating appropriately, combined with eating right, exercising and staying connected with others, can help make health goals attainable, the doctor said. (iStock)
While GLP-1s may not be a fix-all, combining these medications with foundational health practices “makes a lot of sense,” Oz said.
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“I don’t want people being fat-shamed … I don’t want you feeling guilty that you’re gaining weight even though everyone else around you seems to have figured it out,” he said. “It’s not that simple — our set points for hunger are different. We have different things going on in our lives.”
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“But if you realize how precious you are — the temple of the soul is so valuable. It’s the greatest gift your parents ever gave you, and you take advantage of every tool out there to make it work … which includes using medications when appropriate. That, to me, is MAHA.”
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