Making America – and the World – Healthy Again

Inspired by my recent trip to the U.S. and the thought-provoking conversations around the MAHA movement (“Make America Healthy Again”), I found myself reflecting on a much bigger picture.

What happens in the U.S. often sets the tone for the rest of the Western world. But this isn’t just a political issue – it’s personal.

To truly understand the health crisis we’re facing, we need to put politics aside. No matter where we stand ideologically, one truth is impossible to ignore: if current trends continue, the World Obesity Federation predicts that by 2035, half the global population will be overweight or obese.

Let that sink in.

But this isn’t only about waistlines. It’s about mental health, energy, fertility, ageing, productivity, and quality of life. It’s about how the systems we’ve built are failing us.

We live in an age of radical convenience – groceries and meals delivered to our doors, US drive-through pharmacies, cash points, self-service kiosks for everything. It’s efficient, impressive, and often helpful. During my trip to Austin, I even rode in a self-driving Uber to the grocery store. Incredible, right?

And yet, despite the abundance, chronic illnesses are rising, our waistlines are expanding, and our quality of life is declining.

So where did we go wrong?

After World War II, the global focus shifted to feeding a rapidly growing population. Industrial agriculture exploded with one goal: produce more calories at lower cost. It succeeded – but at a steep price. Environmental damage, chemical-laden farming, and diets dominated by refined starches and sugars followed. We began eating more – but not better.

Today, just 10 companies control 80% of the global food supply. Their goal? To engineer ultra-processed foods that are hyper-palatable – and often addictive. They use every psychological trick in the book to keep us hooked, while regulatory systems fall short of protecting consumers.

I was shocked to find Nescafé coffee and Kellogg’s cereals in a tiny rural shop I visited in Kenya – and even more shocked when I once read the label of a “strawberry-flavored” cereal: the “strawberries” were actually chemically dyed dried apples.

A typical fast food burger can contain between 50 and 80 ingredients. This is not food.

*Picture – Proof it can be done—enjoying a real burger made with just 10 simple ingredients at P. Terry’s in Austin

Ultra-processed products now make up more than 60% of the Western diet, with the numbers even higher for children. Their favourite action figures often appear on ultra-processed food packaging, encouraging their choices.
And the problem doesn’t stop at food – many cosmetics, cleaning products, and even medications contain harmful additives. Meanwhile, some pharmaceutical companies spend more on marketing than on research.

But here’s the good news: there is hope.

No matter your political beliefs, and focusing on the message, not the messenger, it’s inspiring to see leaders like U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Surgeon General Dr. Casey Means, and entrepreneur Calley Means advocating for a radical shift in healthcare priorities through the MAHA initiative.

The MAHA movement seeks to transform the U.S. healthcare system from reactive, symptom-based treatment to proactive, root-cause prevention. Its key principles are:

• Tackling root causes: poor diets, sedentary lifestyles, and toxic environments
• Empowering people to prevent disease – rather than waiting to treat it
• Challenging systems that prioritise profit over people

RFK Jr. captured the essence of the movement in a 2024 town hall when he said:

“For half the price of Ozempic, we could purchase regeneratively raised, organic food for every American, three meals a day – and a gym membership for every obese American.”

Final Thought

As a health coach, general manager, and wellness advocate, I wholeheartedly support that message. Quick fixes won’t solve a crisis rooted in decades of daily habits. Real, lasting change comes not from a pill, but from practice.

It comes from choosing sleep over stimulation.
Sunlight over screens.
Whole foods over hyper-processed snacks.
Movement over medication.
Real connection over convenience.
A clean environment over a cluttered one.

Growth happens outside the comfort zone.

This isn’t just an American issue – it’s a global wake-up call. If the MAHA movement gains traction, it could ignite a wellness revolution that transcends borders.