by Matt Weik, BS, CSCS, CPT, CSN
I can’t inform you how excited I’m that the Presidential Health Take a look at is coming again to varsities in america. I feel the dumbest factor we ever did was eliminate it.
I imagine bringing again the Presidential Health Take a look at is a brilliant and needed transfer to try to transfer the needle for our youth and get them more healthy. Too many children at present are chubby. Childhood weight problems is rising. We’d like motion. We’d like construction. And we’d like accountability.
The entire “love your physique” motion that we’ve seen over the past a number of years is a whole joke, for my part. All it’s executed is enable individuals to justify their poor life-style selections and settle for the truth that they’re fats. Yeah, I stated what I stated. People are fats. If that offends you, recover from it. It’s the reality.
On July 31, 2025, President Trump signed an government order that reestablishes the Presidential Health Take a look at. He additionally revitalized the President’s Council on Sports activities, Health, and Vitamin. That Council will construct school-based applications and develop standards for a Presidential Health Award.
This isn’t simply nostalgia. It’s a transparent response to an actual disaster. The order factors out that charges of weight problems, persistent illness, inactivity, and poor diet are at disaster ranges — particularly amongst youngsters. These developments harm our financial system, navy readiness, educational efficiency, and morale.
On this article, we’re going to dive deeper into the relaunch of the Presidential Health Take a look at and what it means transferring ahead.
Disclaimer: This text is for informational functions solely and isn’t meant to deal with or diagnose any situation. It’s endorsed that you just communicate together with your physician earlier than beginning any train program, making modifications to your diet plan, or including any new dietary supplements into your present routine.
The Presidential Health Take a look at is a Time-Examined Mannequin for Well being
The Presidential Health Take a look at dates again to the Eisenhower period. It was created to enhance youth health and nationwide readiness. From the Nineteen Fifties till 2012, tens of millions of scholars took half in it, and personally, I completely beloved it again after I was in class.
Positive, many individuals hated the truth that they needed to do some kind of train and get scored, however I used to be a aggressive athlete and beloved each minute of it. However then once more, again in my day, us children really performed exterior for enjoyable. We weren’t glued to electronics, or our dad and mom would whoop our asses.
The unique assessments of the Presidential Health Take a look at included sit-ups, pull-ups, shuttle runs, lengthy bounce, 50-yard sprint, 600-yard stroll‑run, and non-obligatory aquatic parts. Later a one‑mile run was added.
This was not about humiliating children (though, it did occur amongst their friends). It was about difficult them. About measuring efficiency. About constructing satisfaction. The system rewarded excellence and promoted competitors.
There are those that rose to the event and people who failed miserably and sulked in defeat.
Why the Presidential Health Take a look at Was Phased Out — and Why We Wanted to Pull an Uno Reverse
In 2012, the Obama administration changed the check with the Presidential Youth Health Program. That change shifted the emphasis from athletic efficiency to private health. The purpose was to reduce comparability and give attention to particular person progress.
That program has its place. But it surely lacks the excessive‑achievement tradition. It doesn’t reward excellence. It doesn’t spark competitors. And it doesn’t rebuild nationwide custom or satisfaction.
Primarily, it was a whole and utter failure (surprising). Thoughts you, this entire timeframe was within the period of participation trophies and that “everyone is a winner.”
Sorry, that period and mentality a bunch of horse shit. There are winners and there are losers. In the event you really feel unhealthy for all the time dropping, do higher, practice more durable, and are available again able to compete towards those that got here ready.
Children must learn the way life actually is. Nobody goes to get rewarded at work for merely exhibiting up and failing day by day. Nope. They’re going to get fired and can turn into unemployable with a mindset like that.
What Does Trump’s Government Order Do?
President Trump’s order revives the Presidential Health Take a look at and the Council that formed it.
Key Elements:
- Reestablishes the Presidential Health Take a look at, to be administered by the Secretary of Well being and Human Providers.
- Reestablishes the President’s Council on Sports activities, Health, and Vitamin, with as much as 30 members together with skilled athletes and influential leaders. The Council will advise the President, companion with colleges, and promote energetic life in any respect ranges.
- The Council will design college applications that reward excellence in bodily training.
- The Council will develop standards for the Presidential Health Award as the primary evaluation software.
This government motion is daring. It’s a time-tested construction up to date for at present’s challenges.
Why Does the Presidential Health Take a look at Matter?
There are some on the market who merely don’t perceive why the Presidential Health Take a look at is coming again.
Personally, I imagine these dad and mom are saying this as a result of they’re elevating a bunch of snowflakes which can be ready for his or her participation trophy for begrudgingly exhibiting up.
Let’s take a look at why this check really issues:
1. Children Are Much less Energetic and Much less Wholesome
Too many youngsters at present are sedentary. Quick meals and display time dominate. Poor health in youth results in long-term well being points. The check brings focus again to motion and staying energetic.
2. Motivation By means of Competitors
Each college wants some pleasant competitors. The Health Award brings requirements and objectives. It rewards onerous work and will get children in a aggressive mindset once more.
3. Army Readiness and Nationwide Power
The unique rationale for the Presidential Health Take a look at was nationwide preparedness. Poor youth health weakens navy eligibility. It additionally impacts productiveness and morale.
4. Pleasure, Character, Self-discipline
Bodily assessments train greater than health. They train self-discipline. They construct confidence. They train children what they will obtain with effort.
Addressing Critics
Some argue that high-stakes testing harms vanity or breeds bullying. However proof from college‑primarily based health applications suggests bullying threat isn’t tied to the check itself — it’s tied to the varsity atmosphere general.
The manager order helps school-based applications and athlete partnerships. That sort of construction can alleviate unfavourable results. With the proper framing and help, the Presidential Health Take a look at turns into a software for development — not disgrace.
A Nationwide Name to Motion
This initiative isn’t symbolic. It’s deliberate. It’s ahead‑trying.
President Trump named high-profile athletes and influential figures to the Council. Folks like Bryson DeChambeau, Harrison Butker, Annika Sörenstam, Triple H, Nick Bosa, Saquon Barkley, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Participant, Mariano Rivera, Tony Romo, Tua Tagovailoa, and Wayne Gretzky (to call just a few) are concerned in selling it.
That visibility issues. It sends the message that health is essential. That being sturdy, match, and wholesome is cool once more.
This transfer additionally ties into broader athletic occasions. Between now and 2028, America will host main world competitions, such because the Olympics, the World Cup, the Ryder Cup, and extra. That momentum may also help gasoline a health renaissance at dwelling.
One factor that President Trump must do is take Lawrence Taylor off the Council (I left him off the above record as a result of he doesn’t belong there).
What a horrible individual to have concerned on this, particularly contemplating it includes children. Taylor is a registered intercourse offender and pedophile. Pedophile lives don’t matter, and he ought to go reside below a rock the place he belongs.
Taylor ought to be nowhere close to children, as he’s clearly a toddler predator, and Trump must take him off the Council instantly.
Thank Goodness the Presidential Health Take a look at is Again
Bringing again the Presidential Health Take a look at is wise coverage. It makes use of a confirmed format. It meets actual well being crises. It rewards excellence. It builds satisfaction and readiness.
We’d like construction. We’d like objectives. We’d like requirements. And we have to inspire younger People towards higher well being and better achievement.
Due to Trump’s government order on July 31, 2025, we’ve got the framework to make this occur. It’s time to revive custom. Time to make health enjoyable. And time to construct stronger, more healthy children — and a stronger nation.