Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has claimed that diet can 'cure' schizophrenia and diabetes and allow people to rid themselves of bipolar disorder diagnoses. Researchers say Kennedy's comments overstate current evidence about the role of food in managing illness. Kennedy cited the work of Dr. Christopher Palmer, a Harvard Medical School researcher, who in 2019 wrote about two patients with schizophrenia who experienced remission of symptoms following a ketogenic diet. However, Dr. Christopher Palmer has called Kennedy's claim that he 'cured schizophrenia using keto diets' inaccurate. Kennedy referred to studies 'where people lose their bipolar diagnosis by changing their diet' and said 'there’s a big paper about to come out' showing results. A UCLA study investigating the effect of a keto diet on teenagers with bipolar disorder is still recruiting patients and will not be completed until March 2027, leaving unclear what specific evidence supports Kennedy's claim about curing bipolar disorder.
Kennedy is set to launch a new podcast titled 'The Secretary Kennedy Podcast' next week, which he claims will usher in 'a new era of radical transparency in government.' The podcast will feature Kennedy in discussions with doctors, scientists, and agency personnel. Kennedy's podcast will be the first to be hosted by a sitting cabinet secretary.
Kennedy unveiled a new effort aimed at increasing nutrition education taught in medical schools. As of Thursday morning, 53 medical schools had voluntarily signed on to the initiative, agreeing to administer 40 hours of nutrition education or competency equivalent starting in autumn 2026. Kennedy has urged medical schools to expand their nutrition curriculum and warned that institutions refusing could face cuts to federal funding.
Kennedy has waged an aggressive campaign against ultra-processed foods, which he says are poisoning Americans. He shared an AI-generated video of himself shirtless and wrestling a Twinkie, captioned 'MAHAMania: Snack Down,' on X on Sunday. During his confirmation hearing, Kennedy told lawmakers he wouldn't be coming after anyone's Big Macs or Twinkies and just wants Americans to be aware of what they're eating.
As of March 2026, measles has been reported in 31 states across the country, including a massive outbreak in South Carolina with over 1,000 cases, mostly among unvaccinated children. Kennedy has endorsed children getting vaccinated with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, despite previously making misleading claims about its effectiveness. Kennedy said last April that he would be testing unproven treatments for measles, including cod liver oil.
Kennedy has been traveling across the country as part of a 'Take Back Your Health' Tour since January, speaking less about controversial vaccine policies and more about popular parts of the MAHA agenda. An administration official said vaccines are not popular issues to talk about, citing polling. The White House dismissed that there was any official change in messaging, saying its agenda had 'mass appeal.'
Among Americans aware of the Trump administration's vaccine changes, respondents overwhelmingly told a recent KFF poll that the policies will harm children's health. Less than half of Americans trust the CDC on vaccines now, compared to 85% six years ago.