Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spoken of an \u201cexistential threat\u201d that he said can destroy the nation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have the highest chronic disease burden of any country in the world,\u201d Mr. Kennedy said at a hearing in January before the Senate confirmed him as the secretary of Health and Human Services.<\/p>\n

And on Monday he is starting a tour in the Southwest<\/a> to promote a program to combat chronic illness, emphasizing nutrition and lifestyle.<\/p>\n

But since Mr. Kennedy assumed his post, key grants and contracts that directly address these diseases, including obesity, diabetes and dementia, which experts agree are among the nation\u2019s leading health problems, are being eliminated.<\/p>\n

These programs range in scale and expense. Researchers warn that their demise could mean lost opportunities to address an aspect of public health that Mr. Kennedy has said is his priority.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n