Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, is facing strong backlash after making sweeping comments during a recent press conference regarding autism and its supposed causes. As the CDC released a report revealing a rise in autism diagnoses among U.S. children now affecting 1 in 31 8-year-olds Kennedy doubled down on discredited theories linking autism to environmental exposures and vaccines, while portraying the disorder in stark, stigmatizing terms.

His remarks including claims that children with autism “will never hold a job,” “never pay taxes,” or “never use a toilet unassisted”, were swiftly condemned by parents, medical experts, and advocacy groups alike for reinforcing outdated stereotypes and misrepresenting the broad and diverse autism spectrum.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not a single condition with uniform symptoms or outcomes. Rather, it is a neurological and developmental condition characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. The key word is "spectrum" and it exists for a reason.

Some individuals with autism may be nonverbal and need lifelong support, while others live independently, excel in careers, write books, or even hold public office. “Autism is not a disease,” said actress and autism advocate Holly Robinson Peete in a video statement, responding to Kennedy. “It is a developmental difference and it is important to get that right.”

Her son, RJ, diagnosed 25 years ago, has “shattered a lot of 'never' off that list,” she said, referring to Kennedy’s grim portrayal. Countless parents echoed this sentiment on social media, stating that Kennedy’s generalizations erase the lived realities, milestones, and accomplishments of their children.

CDC Data Shows a Rise in Diagnoses

The CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network reported that 1 in 31 8-year-olds in the U.S. were diagnosed with autism in 2022, compared to 1 in 54 in 2016. But experts stress that this increase is not necessarily cause for alarm. It is, in fact, a sign of progress.

The rise in autism rates is driven largely by improved awareness, broader diagnostic criteria, and increased access to evaluations and services. We are identifying children earlier and more accurately that’s a good thing.

Kennedy, however, rejected this explanation as “indefensible” and announced plans for a directive to the National Institutes of Health to investigate “environmental exposures” as the root cause — reigniting long-debunked concerns about vaccines and toxins.

Despite overwhelming scientific consensus debunking any link between vaccines and autism, Kennedy has long been associated with promoting vaccine hesitancy. His latest comments, veiled in language about “environmental exposures,” once again hint at this discredited narrative.

Leading medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization, have repeatedly emphasized that vaccines are safe, effective, and have no causal relationship with autism. Resurrecting these claims only spreads fear and confusion. It undermines public health and harms autistic people by framing their existence as a preventable tragedy.

Parents Demand a Shift in the Narrative

Perhaps the strongest rebuke came from parents of autistic children themselves. Samantha Taylor, whose 20-year-old son is on the spectrum, told Good Morning America, “Autism doesn’t destroy families misinformation does.” In a viral Facebook post, she added, “What truly causes damage is the relentless portrayal of autism as something catastrophic, rather than a different way of experiencing the world.”

Kennedy’s comments, they say, not only ignore the complexity of the condition but strip children of their dignity and potential.

“Statements like ‘they’ll never write a poem’ deny the creative genius that so many autistic individuals demonstrate,” said Peete. “It’s dangerous, it’s harmful, and it’s simply false.”

Experts Call for More Informed Leadership

While Kennedy has promised answers by September through federally backed studies, medical experts warn that his rhetoric may set back years of advocacy and research by framing autism as an “epidemic” akin to an infectious disease.

Autism is not something to be eradicated, it’s something to be understood, supported, and embraced. Families deserve resources, not fearmongering.

In the last two decades, the medical community has shifted toward neurodiversity — a perspective that recognizes neurological differences like autism as natural variations of the human genome. This philosophy emphasizes inclusivity, respect, and strength-based approaches rather than medicalizing difference.

At a time when public trust in institutions is fragile, the words of public officials matter deeply. Kennedy’s comments have triggered a reckoning not only about how autism is portrayed in the media and politics but also about how society chooses to value — or devalue — people who are different.

Advocates stress the need for policies rooted in science, not stigma, and for leadership that uplifts rather than marginalizes.

As the national conversation around autism continues, one thing is clear: the autism community — parents, children, adults on the spectrum, clinicians, and allies — is not going to stay silent in the face of outdated narratives.

Global pharma giant Novo Nordisk launched its blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy in India, a pivotal moment in the battle against increasing obesity levels in the nation. This follows closely on the heels of Eli Lilly's Mounjaro launch in India.

Wegovy, the semaglutide-based GLP-1 receptor agonist, will be available by the end of the month across major pharmacy chains in India. The once-weekly injectable prescription drug has already changed the landscape of obesity management in the United States and Europe.

"One out of every three patients attain 20% weight loss using the increased dose of Wegovy," stated Vikrant Shrotriya, Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India. The firm has completed late-stage trials involving 3,500 people in India, indicating encouraging results in sustained weight loss.

Wegovy will come in several dosages, ranging from Rs 4,336 for 0.25 mg to Rs 26,015 for the highest 2.4 mg dose. Its price is comparable to its rival Mounjaro, which was also launched in India last month in March.

Wegovy is timely given the increasing weight problem in India. A recent National Family Health Survey reveals that 24% of Indian women and 23% of Indian men aged between 15 and 49 years are overweight or obese—a notable increase from past years. India, with a population of over 1.4 billion and fast-emerging lifestyle diseases, is a huge market for weight-loss medications.

The medication has already proven to be successful across the world. Clinical trials have indicated that Wegovy consumers would lose around 15% of their body weight on average, especially when combined with a balanced diet and regular exercise. For comparison, Mounjaro (tirzepatide), being a dual GIP and GLP-1 agonist, experienced close to 23% of weight loss under the same circumstances.

Novo Nordisk's launch in India is at a time of corporate leadership transition, following the recent resignation of CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen. The move is said by analysts to be intended to protect market share in a competitive environment rising from Lilly competition as well as Indian generic drugmakers who are gearing up to move into the field of obesity drugs when semaglutide's patent is about to end in 2026.

Although Wegovy brings new hope to millions of people with obesity, there are warnings with the medication. The drug has a boxed FDA warning about the potential for thyroid cancer, as suggested by studies on animals. Because of this, the drug is not approved for use in someone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN2).

As India joins the global fight against obesity with cutting-edge therapies, India is all set to benefit from Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, which is ready to provide a new, science-driven solution for long-term weight management. The competition has already turned hot, and for Indian consumers, it could mean more options, improved results, and a new age of obesity treatment.

When Stacie Golebiowski went for her 36-week ultrasound last summer, she knew her baby would be big, but no one was truly ready for just how big. On July 4, 2024, at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH), Stacie gave birth to her son, Grayson, who weighed a surprising 15 pounds and 10 ounces. This was such an unusual size that it caused a first-ever problem for the hospital staff when trying to record his weight.

System Limitations Of Dealing With Above Average Baby Weight

Laura Ferris, who helps manage women and children's services at the hospital, explained that when Grayson was born, the nurses found his weight was too high for the Ontario registry system. They actually had to call the registry, which then had to manually update their records – something that had never happened before.

Now, as Grayson gets close to his first birthday, he's doing great. Stacie shared that there were difficulties and unknowns with Grayson at the start, even for the doctors and nurses. But they got through it all, and he's "doing amazing."

The family hopes their story can help other parents who have unusually large babies. Stacie mentioned feeling like she might have done something wrong, but she emphasized that it's important for parents to understand that it's just what their body does and it's not their fault. According to BORN Ontario, Grayson's birth weight puts him in the top 0.01 percent of all babies born in the province.

Concerns Regarding High Birth Weight

According to MedlinePlus, when babies are born larger than average, it's called having a high birth weight. While every baby is a blessing, being very big can sometimes come with a few challenges. For example, it can make the delivery more difficult for both the baby and the mother, and there might be a higher chance of minor injuries during birth. After birth, bigger babies might also face some specific health issues like,

Blood Sugar Issues

Their bodies might have trouble keeping their blood sugar levels steady, which needs to be watched closely by doctors.

Breathing Problems

Sometimes, these babies can have trouble with their breathing, requiring extra care.

Jaundice

This is a common condition that causes a yellowing of the skin and eyes because of too much bilirubin in the blood. While many babies get jaundice, those with a high birth weight might be more prone to it or have a more noticeable case.

Risks Associated with Higher Birth Weights

The Standford Medicine Children’s Health points out that many large babies are born to mothers with diabetes. They also list the risks that are associated with high birth weight,

• A long labor.
• A difficult birth.
• Injuries to the baby, such as a broken collarbone or nerve damage in the arm.
• A greater chance of needing a C-section.
• Higher risk of birth defects.

Does High Birth Weight Cause Health Issue?

According to a 2021 study published in the Frontiers in Pediatrics journal, more and more children are being born with high birth weight or are considered "large for gestational age" (LGA). This is happening even more with babies conceived through certain fertility treatments like frozen embryo transfer (FET). While we know a lot about the short-term risks for these babies, less is known about their health in the long run.

A 2021 study looked at the connection between high birth weight and long-term health in children. After reviewing many studies, it found that being born with a high birth weight or LGA was linked to a slightly higher risk for certain cancers in childhood (including breast cancer), some mental health conditions, high blood pressure in childhood, and both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The season is again transitioning, from spring to summers and some areas are also seeing early monsoons. This is also the allergy season in the US, and thanks to global warming, it has begun earlier. This has caused 25% of adults and 20% of children to experience seasonal allergies. While almost everywhere in America seasonal allergies are going on, there are certain regions where cases are more. You may be more prone to catching diseases. A recent 2025 report by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranked the 100 most populous metropolitan areas in the contiguous United States based on tree, grass, and weed pollen counts. The data also accounts for number of allergy specialists and estimates of over-the-counter sinus and allergy medication usage.

Each city was scored based on the three factors, and the scores would top out of 100.00 for the worst city for allergies to 45.29 for the best.

Each metropolitan area was also rated as “worse than average,” “average,” or “better than average” based on its levels of tree, grass, and weed pollen. Similar ratings were given for medication usage and access to allergy specialists.

10 Worst US Cities To Live In During Seasonal Allergies

10. At number 10 is Greensboro, North Carolina with a score of 82.08. The pollen rating for this region is worse than average.

9. At number 9 is Greenville, South Carolina with a score of 82.74, and rating worse than average.

8. Next up is Richmond in Virginia, with a score of 82.80. Rating for this too is worse than average.

7. The rating for all is worse than average, and on number 7 is Raleigh, North Carolina, with scoring of 82.87.

6. Little Rock in Arkansas scored 82.94.

5. Memphis in Tennessee scored 83.50.

4. At number 4 is Tulsa in Oklahoma with allergy score of 84.16.

3. For the top 3, we again have Oklahoma with Oklahoma City with allergy score of 86.05.

2. Top 2 is New Orleans in Louisiana, scoring 86.81.

1. For top 1, Wichita in Kansas has scored an allergy score of 100.00.

What Are The Common Allergy Triggers For US?

As per the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, in many parts of the United States, spring allergies kick off as early as February and can last through early summer. Tree pollen is typically the first to appear, followed by grass pollen later in the season, and then ragweed, which dominates in late summer and fall. In tropical regions, grass pollen can linger for much of the year. Warmer winter temperatures may trigger early pollination, while a rainy spring often leads to fast plant growth and a spike in mold—prolonging allergy symptoms well into the fall.

Ragweed: The Top Fall Allergen

Ragweed is the most common cause of fall allergies. It grows wild across the U.S., especially along the East Coast and throughout the Midwest. Ragweed typically starts releasing pollen in August and continues through November, with levels peaking in early to mid-September in many regions.

Other Plants That Trigger Fall Allergies

• Burning bush
• Cocklebur
• Lamb’s-quarters
• Pigweed
• Sagebrush and mugwort
• Tumbleweed and Russian thistle

What Affects Allergy Severity

The intensity and timing of allergy seasons can vary by location, but several climate-related factors play a role in how severe your symptoms may be:

• Tree, grass, and ragweed pollens flourish in cool nights and warm days.
• Mold thrives in hot, humid conditions.
• Pollen counts are usually highest in the morning.
• Rain can wash away pollen, but levels often rise quickly once it stops.
• Calm, windless days keep allergens low to the ground.
• Warm, windy days cause pollen counts to spike.