Health & Policy Roundup: MAHA‘s Challenges, Gun Violence Disparities, and Testosterone Therapy Risks
A year after Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s launch of teh Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, a STAT News analysis reveals a complex landscape of both continued enthusiasm and growing internal fractures. reporter Isabella Cueto interviewed nearly two dozen individuals connected to MAHA, finding it less a unified front and more a coalition of diverse interests. Historian Kathryn Olivarius succinctly put it: “We talk about it as a unified movement, but it’s not. It’s a collection of different interests.” Cueto’s reporting details the difficulties in forging a cohesive narrative, the divisive impact of Kennedy’s stance on vaccines within the movement, and the fulfillment – or lack thereof - of initial promises. Read the full story here.
Pediatric Gun Injuries Reflect Socioeconomic Disparities
Despite MAHA’s focus on chronic disease, gun violence remains the leading cause of death for children in the United States.new research published in Pediatrics highlights stark geographic disparities in pediatric gun injury rates. The study, analyzing hospital discharge data from four states alongside a Childhood Opportunity Index, found children in disadvantaged neighborhoods are up to 20 times more likely to be hospitalized for gun injuries compared to those in affluent areas.
The data revealed that 28% of ZIP codes categorized as having “very low opportunity” were hotspots for these injuries, compared to just 5% in “very high-opportunity” areas. Specific state data showed notably dramatic differences: maryland saw a more than 20-fold increase in hospitalization rates for children in low-opportunity ZIP codes, Wisconsin nearly 19-fold, New York 16-fold, and Florida 8-fold. More details on the study can be found here and the full publication in Pediatrics is available here.
Risks of Unmonitored Testosterone therapy
A physician’s personal experience with testosterone therapy serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unregulated online prescriptions. Jeffrey T.Junig, after undergoing heart surgery, began testosterone treatment through a quick online consultation and was prescribed a significantly higher dose (182mg per week) than typically recommended by the Endocrine Society (75-100mg per week). While initially experiencing positive effects – increased energy, strength, and improved mood – Junig soon faced a serious risk of right-heart failure.
His online provider even congratulated him on increased oxygen-carrying capacity as his health deteriorated. Junig, leveraging his medical training, recognized the warning signs and halted the treatment. He shares his story as a warning about the potential risks of easily accessible testosterone prescriptions and the importance of careful medical oversight. Read his First Opinion essay here.
Further Reading
