There are many positive elements in the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement that would be beneficial for public health. This would include improved physical health through promoting exercise, better nutrition, reducing rates of obesity and managing chronic diseases. Exploring ways to make healthcare more affordable and accessible by the US population is also important as is recognising the importance of mental well-being, reducing stigma, and increasing access to mental healthcare services.
Another key area is environmental health. This could include cleaner air and water, reducing pollution, and addressing climate change. The USA also suffers from high rates of drug addiction and this needs addressing through prevention, treatment, and harm reduction strategies. These would all be positive steps for public health in the USA (and countries that replicated these approaches). But it is also that the MAHA movement does not undermine effective public health interventions such as vaccination or promote drug treatments for which there is no evidence of benefit and which could be harmful.
A “Make America Healthy Again” movement, if built on a foundation of evidence-based public health principles, a commitment to health equity, and a focus on both individual and systemic changes, could be a powerful force for improving the health and well-being of Americans. However, it’s essential that such a movement avoids the pitfalls of promoting misinformation, undermining proven interventions like vaccination, and pushing unproven or harmful treatments.