Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday announced the return of the Presidential Fitness Test and launched GetActive.gov/kids, a new federal initiative aimed at promoting physical activity among children as part of President Donald Trump’s Make America Healthy Again agenda.

Kennedy joined more than 75 children at the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, New Jersey, to kick off the initiative, with students participating in fitness exercises alongside Kennedy, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and WWE stars including Paul Levesque, also known as Triple H.

The Presidential Fitness Test, a school-based physical assessment that measures students’ strength, endurance, speed and agility through exercises such as running, push-ups and pull-ups, was originally introduced by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 before being discontinued during the administration of President Barack Obama in 2013. HHS said schools across the country are expected to begin administering the updated test this fall using age-appropriate standards measuring strength, endurance, speed and agility.

Don’t Miss:

HHS said GetActive.gov/kids will provide resources for parents, schools and communities to help children build healthier daily habits and stay physically active.

Childhood Obesity In Focus

Kennedy said the program’s return comes as the U.S. faces worsening child health outcomes.

In a Monday interview on Fox News’s Jesse Watters Primetime, Kennedy said the test will include sprints, pull-ups, push-ups and other physical challenges.

“Our children are now the sickest children in the world,” Kennedy said. He also described American children as among the most obese globally.

He said childhood obesity has risen from 3% in 1960 to roughly 20% today. He added that about 40% of U.S. adults are obese, while roughly 70% are overweight or obese. Kennedy also blamed modern diets, saying around 70% of Americans’ calories now come from ultra-processed foods.

See Also: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your ‘Safe’ Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

Kennedy has repeatedly criticized ultra-processed foods and high-sugar products as part of his broader Make America Healthy Again agenda, arguing that diet plays a major role in America’s chronic disease burden.

HHS said nearly 1 in 5 children in the U.S. is overweight or obese. The agency also said 77% of young Americans are ineligible for military service, with poor health and physical fitness among the leading reasons.

Broader MAHA Push

The fitness initiative marks another health-focused rollout under Kennedy’s leadership. In recent months, the Trump administration launched Moms.gov to expand maternal health resources, while HHS also announced more than $700 million in mental health and addiction funding under broader public health initiatives.

Kennedy said restoring daily physical activity is critical to reversing long-term health decline among American children.

Image via Shutterstock

Read Next: 

Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Arrived

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

Immersed

Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.

BluSky AI

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is creating significant demand for data centers, power, and compute infrastructure. BluSky AI is building modular AI data centers designed to support next-generation AI workloads while aiming to reduce deployment timelines compared to traditional facilities. For investors looking beyond AI software and applications, the company offers exposure to the infrastructure layer that makes artificial intelligence possible.

ARK7

Residential real estate has historically provided investors with income potential and long-term appreciation, but direct ownership can be expensive and time-consuming. ARK7 enables investors to buy fractional shares of rental properties, offering access to potential rental income and real estate exposure without property management responsibilities. By lowering the barrier to entry, the platform gives investors another way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds.

Miso Robotics

Robotics and automation are becoming increasingly important tools for businesses facing labor shortages and rising operating costs. Miso Robotics develops AI-powered kitchen technology that is already being deployed in restaurant environments, with products designed to help operators improve efficiency and streamline operations. As artificial intelligence expands beyond software and into real-world applications, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of robotics, automation and the future of food service.

Vinovest

Fine wine and rare whiskey have historically moved independently of the stock market, making them a compelling alternative asset. Vinovest manages authenticated, insured portfolios of investment-grade wine and whiskey starting at $5,000 — sourcing, storage, and insurance all handled for you.

FarmTogether

Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.

EquityMultiple

For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.

Fundrise

Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.

American Hartford Gold

American Hartford Gold is a precious metals dealer that helps clients buy physical gold and silver coins and bars, either for direct delivery or within self-directed precious metals IRAs. The company’s services include gold and silver IRAs, IRA rollovers, and home delivery of bullion, giving investors a way to use tangible metals to diversify portfolios and seek protection against inflation and market volatility.

Mode Mobile

Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream.

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.