Saying Autism and Obesity Are “Preventable” Raises Ire

Our Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has a knack for raising ire. He does it in many ways. But on the diverse subjects of autism and obesity he uses the same word – preventable – to do it. The problem is not the word itself. The problem comes from false promises that complex and difficult problems have an easy solution, the magic prevention wand.

When Kennedy recently promised “we will know what has caused the Autism epidemic and we’ll be able to eliminate those exposures” as soon as September, people who know what they’re talking about were ticked. The Autism Society of America called his remarks harmful, misleading, and unrealistic. CEO Christopher Banks said it plainly:

“These misleading theories perpetuate harmful stigma, jeopardize public health, and distract from the critical needs of the Autism community including – access to quality care, early intervention, adult services, inclusive education, and long-term supports.”

He’s also said, “If we just gave good food, three meals a day, to every man, woman and child in our country, we could solve the obesity and diabetes epidemic overnight.”

Preventable Is a Tricky Word

Preventable is a problematic word to apply to either autism and obesity. The problems come because it implies that we know the “root cause” for either condition when clearly we do not. And in fact, the causes are complex and multifactorial. So suggesting there is a single or singularly important root cause is a lie that tends to perpetuate stigma and distract from helping the people living with these conditions.

In the case of autism, the easy lie is to suggest that it might be caused by environmental exposures, parenting styles, or vaccines. The Autism Society calls those suggestions “incredibly irresponsible.”

In the case of obesity, the prevailing story of a root cause goes through cycles. For a time, we blamed high fat diets. Then we moved on to added sugar, and now the fashion is to say it’s all about addictive ultra-processed foods. But it’s just not that simple. And blaming it on doing or eating the wrong things adds up to blaming and stigmatizing the people who live with obesity while offering us little in the way of care.

Fostering Divisions More Than Problem Solving

But the deeper issue with Kennedy’s false promises is the way they polarize us. Many folks in the autism community angrily denounce him and his drive to erase autism. They want acceptance for folks who can live rich lives with this condition as part of who they are. Others, like Emily May, have more complex feelings about the subject. She writes in the New York Times:

“I have no interest in defending Mr. Kennedy, whose shaky science and conspiracy theories will do nothing to benefit those with autism and their families.

“And yet, I think his remarks echo the reality and pain of a subset of parents of children with autism who feel left out of much of the conversation around the condition. Many advocacy groups focus so much on acceptance, inclusion and celebrating neurodiversity that it can feel as if they are avoiding uncomfortable truths about children like mine.”

Whether talking about obesity or autism, empty promises that these conditions are easily preventable are false, damaging, and divisive.

Click here for free access to Emily May’s excellent essay.

Compendium About Magic, illustration from the Wellcome Collection, licensed under CC BY 4.0

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April 27, 2025