Part 2/8:
Starting with what he considered the paramount issues, Kennedy emphasized the alarming statistics regarding health in the United States: over 70% of adults are classified as overweight or obese, and a third of the nation’s children face similar challenges. He noted the significant increase in diabetes rates—ten times higher than in the 1960s—alongside rising incidences of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and mental health disorders such as addiction and depression.