Sun Jul 06 01:20:00 UTC 2025: **Kennedy Jr. Pushes for Universal Wearable Tech Use Within Four Years, Citing Health Benefits**
**Washington D.C.** – Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is advocating for widespread adoption of wearable technology, setting an ambitious goal of every American wearing a health-tracking device within the next four years. The announcement came during a House Subcommittee on Health hearing last week, where Kennedy touted wearables as a key component of the “Making America Healthy Again (MAHA)” agenda.
“It’s a way people can take control over their own health,” Kennedy stated, highlighting the ability of wearables to monitor glucose levels, activity, heart health, and sleep patterns. “They can see… what food is doing to their glucose levels, their heart rates… and they can begin to make good judgments about their diet, about their physical activity, about the way that they live their lives.”
Wearables, which include watches, bands, rings, patches, and clothing, have seen increased popularity as tools for self-monitoring and motivation. Digital medicine experts acknowledge the potential benefits, particularly in encouraging increased physical activity.
“The idea was sort of, can I see when I’m active? Not active? Can I see when I have poor health habits and then adjust accordingly?” explained Nabil Alshurafa, an associate professor at Northwestern University. Studies have shown that wearables can empower patients, aid in diagnosing conditions, and facilitate behavioral changes.
However, experts caution that widespread adoption isn’t a necessity for everyone, and potential risks exist. Dr. David McManus, chair and professor of medicine at UMass Chan Medical School, emphasized that sustained behavioral change is crucial for realizing the benefits. “The missing link in the chain of wearables to good health is getting people to actually get off their couch and go be more active.”
Privacy concerns also loom large, as wearables generate substantial amounts of sensitive health data. A potential data breach could compromise personal information, and some fear that insurance companies could misuse the data to raise premiums or deny coverage.
Adding another layer of complexity, questions have been raised about potential conflicts of interest given Kennedy’s connection to certain people in the wearable app space.
Alshurafa suggests a targeted approach, using wearables to address specific health concerns and eventually weaning individuals off them as their health improves. Whether Kennedy’s vision of universal wearable use will be realized remains to be seen, but the debate surrounding their benefits and risks is sure to continue.
First Piper 