HoldsUp

Mark Hyman, MD · 2025-07-02 · Mark Hyman (host), Daniel Schmachtenberger

Why Chronic Disease Is Exploding! | Daniel Schmachtenberger

46 research-tied claims examined: 5 contradicted 8 overstated 6 context 18 supported 9 unverified

6

Needs context

0:11:28Daniel Schmachtenbergerneeds contextmoderate

Approximately 2 billion tons of municipal waste and 190 billion tons of mining waste are produced globally each year.

"There's two billion tons of municipal waste produced every year, waste that, you know, like comes from our house. It's a lot. Two billion tons. Like mind-blowing when you think about it. There's about 190 billion tons of mining waste produced every year." (said at 0:11:28)

The claim pairs an accurate estimate of municipal solid waste with an unusually high estimate of mining waste. Global assessments typically estimate annual municipal solid waste generation at approximately 2.0 to 2.7 billion metric tonnes (for example, the World Bank reported 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016, and recent modeling estimates 2.3 to 3.1 billion tonnes). However, annual global mining waste is generally estimated to be far lower than 190 billion tonnes, with total global waste generation across all economic activities estimated at approximately 20 billion tonnes per year, though broader definitions counting total earth and overburden displacement can yield larger material movement figures.

0:13:49Daniel Schmachtenbergerneeds contexthigh

Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium account for 96% of human body weight, and with electrolytes they make up 99%.

"Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium make up 96% of our weight. And you add the few electrolytes in there and it's 99% of our weight." (said at 0:13:49)

Standard human body composition reference models (such as the atomic-level model of body composition and International Commission on Radiological Protection reference data) establish that the four primary elements—oxygen (~65%), carbon (~18.5%), hydrogen (~9.5%), and nitrogen (~3.2%)—account for approximately 96% of total body mass. When calcium (~1.5%), phosphorus (~1.0%), and essential electrolytes (potassium, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium, along with sulfur) are included, they collectively constitute over 99% of total human body weight, leaving trace elements to account for less than 1%. The speaker's statement groups calcium and phosphorus into the 96% figure rather than the four primary elements alone, but accurately reflects the overall distribution of major elements and electrolytes in the human body.

0:33:43Daniel Schmachtenbergerneeds contextvery low

A clinical study by Dr. Heather Sandison using a multimodal protocol improved or reversed Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores in 70% of participants within six months.

"Dr. Heather Sandison, who wrote the book recently, Reversing Alzheimer's... And that particular study that she did, there was an inpatient using a Bredesen-like protocol that was reversing the MoCA scores in 70% of the people that went in within six months with pretty basic stuff, like largely diet, lifestyle, and a little bit of functional medicine." (said at 0:33:43)

A 2023 pilot clinical trial led by Dr. Heather Sandison (PMID: 37355891) evaluated a multimodal, individualized intervention combining diet, exercise, stress management, nutraceuticals, and targeted medical therapies over six months in 34 individuals with objective cognitive impairment. The study reported that mean MoCA scores improved significantly from 19.6 ± 3.1 at baseline to 21.7 ± 6.2 at 6 months (p = 0.013), with improvements in cognitive domains observed across a majority of participants. However, this study was a small, uncontrolled, single-arm feasibility trial without a control or sham group, meaning practice effects, regression to the mean, and confounding cannot be excluded. Additionally, the clinical trial was delivered as an outpatient protocol with pragmatic clinic visits and weekly phone support, rather than as an inpatient intervention.

0:37:51Mark Hyman (host)needs contextmoderate

81% of Americans take at least one prescription medication.

"You know, 81% of Americans are on at least one medication." (said at 0:37:51)

The 81% figure comes from the landmark Slone Survey (Kaufman et al., JAMA 2002), which found that 81% of ambulatory US adults took at least one medication or supplement in any given week. However, that broad definition included prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, vitamins/minerals, and herbal supplements. When restricted strictly to prescription drugs, 50% of adults reported taking at least one prescription medication in the preceding week.

0:50:50Daniel Schmachtenbergerneeds contextmoderate

Autism prevalence in children has increased from 1 in 10,000 to approximately 1 in 130 over recent decades.

"Like the autism epidemic as an example. We've went from 1 in 10,000 when I was born to, you know, 1 in 130." (said at 0:50:50)

Historical epidemiological surveys from prior to the mid-1980s frequently reported classic autism rates around 1 to 4 per 10,000 children (roughly 1 in 2,500 to 1 in 10,000), whereas modern surveillance and global reviews estimate autism spectrum disorder prevalence between 1 in 100 (100 per 10,000) and 1 in 36 depending on the surveillance cohort and year. However, epidemiological consensus emphasizes that this rise reflects broadened diagnostic criteria (transitioning from narrowly defined classic infantile autism to the broader autism spectrum), increased awareness, diagnostic substitution, and improved screening and case ascertainment, rather than a demonstrated biological epidemic.

0:37:06Mark Hyman (host)needs contexthigh

The United States spends twice as much per capita on healthcare as any other nation, and three to five times as much as many countries.

"We're spending more and more—I mean, we spend twice that of any other nation, often three, four, five times as much." (said at 0:37:06)

Cross-national comparisons of health expenditures confirm that the United States spends roughly double the average of other high-income and OECD countries on healthcare per capita, and three to five times (or more) as much as many other nations. However, stating that the U.S. spends 'twice that of any other nation' is technically imprecise: while the U.S. is the highest spender globally, the next highest-spending countries (such as Switzerland, Germany, Norway, or Luxembourg) spend within 20% to 40% of U.S. levels, rather than half.

Unverified means no publication matching the claim was located; it does not prove the claim false. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy - disputes from the people quoted are prioritized.