In February 2010, then–First Lady Michelle Obama launched “Let’s Move!,” a campaign aimed at reducing childhood obesity through healthier diets, more physical activity, and less screen time. The initiative leaned heavily on celebrity partnerships—Beyoncé leading kids in a cafeteria dance, LeBron James munching apples at the White House—and partnerships with food companies that pledged to cut sodium, sugar, and calories. Walmart, Olive Garden’s parent company Darden, and other industry giants made promises to improve public health.
But as The Atlantic reports, many of these commitments either went unmet or yielded little real change. Olive Garden’s “Tour of Italy” still contains more than double the recommended daily sodium intake, and Walmart’s reductions applied only to its store brands. Even where companies followed through, the impact was muted; calorie reductions often reflected industry trends rather than real innovation. “Let’s Move” nudged corporations with friendly persuasion but lacked regulatory teeth, leaving the food environment largely unchanged.
Fast forward to today, and the Trump administration has revived the battle against poor nutrition under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda. In tone, Kennedy’s approach diverges sharply from Obama’s. Where “Let’s Move” had the upbeat vibe of a “cool mom,” Kennedy projects a “stern dad” persona, blasting food companies for “mass poisoning American children” and championing macho fitness stunts such as the “Pete and Bobby Challenge,” which involves 100 push-ups and 50 pull-ups in under 10 minutes.
Still, as The Atlantic notes, MAHA’s core strategy closely mirrors Obama’s: pressuring the food industry to voluntarily reformulate products rather than pursuing stricter regulations. Kennedy has won some concessions—General Mills and Kraft Heinz have pledged to remove synthetic dyes, for instance—but experts caution that these symbolic moves may not address the root causes of America’s obesity crisis.
Nutrition scholars warn that Kennedy’s focus on seed oils, raw milk, and other fringe issues risks sidelining evidence-based reforms. Like “Let’s Move,” MAHA may struggle to translate bold rhetoric into measurable improvements in public health. The lesson from a decade ago still applies: without systemic change, voluntary promises are unlikely to move the needle, the report concludes.
