Simon Williams , 2025-05-15 10:06:00
Robert F Kennedy Jr’s confirmation as secretary of health and human services has arguably been President Trump’s most controversial appointment.1 But, beyond the catchy slogan, how do we know whether Kennedy will actually Make America Healthy Again (MAHA)?
“Kennedy Jr is right that there is a chronic disease epidemic in the US,” says Tom Frieden, president and chief executive of the global health organisation Resolve to Save Lives and former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But he adds, “In some cases, he’s focusing on the wrong solutions. To combat chronic disease, we need to start by implementing proven solutions like comprehensive tobacco control policies, reducing sodium in food, improving nutrition standards for school lunches, and regulating polluters.”
The origins of MAHA
The phrase “Make America Healthy Again” was coined by a health food chain, Sweetgreen, as a play on Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan during his first term. It has since been taken up as a mantra by a diverse range of people, from “MAHA moms” advocating for better diets to carnivore diet promoting social media influencers.
The movement is largely united by criticism of the ultraprocessed food industry or specific ingredients and products such as seed oils. However, it has been criticised for some of its controversial beliefs, including misinformation related to vaccines.
The movement has been most famously adopted and popularised by the now US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, after he relinquished his bid for the 2024 presidency in favour of supporting Trump’s campaign.
The focus on cleaning up the American diet by regulating the food industry is welcomed by …
