"Americans are increasingly exposed to health and wellness influencers, debates over additives, microplastics and forever chemicals, and politicized questions about the food, medication and vaccines we put into our bodies. On the left, some of these questions and debates are influencing environmental and consumer policies in places like California and Colorado. On the right, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again movement wield immense power to shape policy across the country. Much of this attention is focused especially on parenting and childhood."
"For this conversation we cast a wider net than just Mr. Kennedy's supporters, but specifically brought together people who said they had a particular worry about the food their families eat and an interest in doing some of their own research, not just deferring to doctors. While six of the 14 participants said they would describe themselves as MAHA moms, the others did not."
Mothers report anxiety about overparenting, watching children grow, and constant worries about safety. Exposure to health influencers and debates over additives, microplastics, and forever chemicals shapes parental concerns. Political forces drive policy responses on environmental and consumer protections in some states, while figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again movement influence conservative health agendas. Many parents conduct independent research on food, medication, and vaccines and often feel dismissed by doctors. The concerned cohort spans political affiliations and includes both MAHA-identifying mothers and those with selective health worries. Social media intensifies pressure and complicates everyday parenting decisions.
Read at www.nytimes.com
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