"Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) became a rallying cry during the final months of the 2024 presidential election, after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed President Donald Trump and joined his campaign.

A little over a week after Election Day 2024, Trump announced Kennedy as his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

Under Kennedy's leadership, the MAHA movement aims to improve nutrition in America, eliminate toxins, preserve natural habitats and fight the chronic disease epidemic, according to its website.

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Read on to learn more about some of the key players behind the MAHA movement.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a former presidential candidate, son of former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and President Trump's pick for HHS secretary. 

Kennedy has said he aims to make America healthy again through strategies such as focusing on food and nutrition, targeting chronic diseases, changing FDA policies and raising awareness of alternative health treatments. 

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Jessica Reed Kraus is the author of "House Inhabit," one of the top culture Substack blogs. The California-based influencer previously described herself as "super liberal," but her politics shifted during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Kraus worked with both the Trump and RFK Jr. presidential campaigns, and she wrote glowingly about the MAHA Inaugural Ball in her Substack.

Marla Maples, ex-wife of President Donald Trump and mother of Tiffany Trump, was among the supporters who appeared on Capitol Hill this past Wednesday during the confirmation hearing for HHS secretary. 

The Georgia native, also a co-founder of the Global Wellness Forum, shared her excitement for the MAHA movement and her hopes for a healthier America.

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"I have to support America's health, our children's health … We suffered [for] so long with what they're putting in our food supply without having consent on what we're getting medically," she told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

Jillian Michaels is a renowned fitness expert based in Miami, Florida. As a certified personal trainer and nutrition specialist, she takes a no-nonsense approach to health and wellness. 

In Sept. 2024, Michaels appeared in a "Make America Healthy Again" ad with healthcare entrepreneur Brigham Buhler.

Alex Clark is the host of the "Culture Apothecary" podcast. She speaks with guests who share their own healing remedies for those seeking alternative healthcare methods. 

A contributor to the nonprofit political organization Turning Point USA, the Arizona-based Clark has over 120,000 followers on X and nearly half a million Instagram followers.

Known as the "Food Babe," Vani Hari has been raising alarms about chemicals in food, water and the air for over a decade. 

Based in North Carolina, the mother of three is the author of several books and the "Food Babe" blog. 

As a food activist, Hari aims to influence major food giants to adopt healthier policies.

Caitlin Sinclair, who is with Turning Point Action, spoke with Fox News Digital about her personal connection to the MAHA movement.

Sinclair experienced a "dark, seven-year odyssey" of wrongful diagnoses, she shared. 

The MAHA movement is part of a "spiritual awakening" in the U.S. that is key to helping people achieve the American dream, she said.

Calley Means is a New York City-based entrepreneur, author and advocate for healthcare reform, focusing on the intersection of food, policy and chronic disease. 

Means co-founded TrueMed, a company in Washington, D.C., that helps Americans use health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for preventative health measures like nutrition and fitness. 

He also co-wrote the book "Good Energy" with his sister, Casey Means, M.D. 

Dr. Casey Means is a Stanford-trained physician and metabolic health expert based in Los Angeles.

Formerly a surgeon, she shifted her focus to preventive medicine, emphasizing the role of diet and lifestyle in combating chronic disease. 

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Means focuses on metabolic health, highlighting the connections between blood sugar, inflammation and long-term wellness. She was among the supporters who attended the confirmation hearing for RFK Jr. on Jan. 29.

Nicole Saphier, M.D., a board-certified radiologist with advanced fellowship training in breast imaging, is a Fox News medical contributor and bestselling author. 

The New York City-based doctor also wrote the book "Make America Healthy Again" in 2020, spearheading the MAHA movement. 

An Australian who now calls Los Angeles home, Liana Werner-Gray said her life changed dramatically in 2009 at age 21, when she was told she had cancer in her lymphatic system.   

Eschewing traditional medicine, Werner-Gray embarked on a "massive detox" and changed her diet. She is the author of "The Earth Diet" and several other books.

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The wellness advocate spoke with Fox News Digital about her personal health journey while attending RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearing.

Daphne Oz is an Emmy-winning TV host, author and wellness advocate known for her expertise in healthy living, nutrition and balanced lifestyle choices. She is based in Florida.

As the daughter of Dr. Mehmet Oz, Daphne Oz has built a career emphasizing the importance of nourishing foods, mindful indulgence and wellness. She was recently spotted at the MAHA inaugural ball held in celebration of RFK Jr. on Jan. 20. 

A man who is 92 years old is not only still competing in his activity of choice, he's teaching others the secrets of how to live a long, healthy and fulfilling life.

Ivan Pedley, a retired toolmaker, plays ping-pong twice a week and said he has no plans to stop any time soon.

The grandfather of three took up the paddle sport when he was 14, news agency SWNS reported. Now, 78 years later, he's still playing.

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The retiree plays roughly 14 games a week at the Great Wyrley Table Tennis Club in Staffordshire, West Midlands, England.

He often goes up against opponents who are much younger, SWNS said.

And while he may have slowed down a bit over time, Pedley said he rarely gets knocked off the table and that success at the sport is all about "technique."

He said regular ping-pong playing helps him stay fit and healthy and that continuing to play it well into his senior years is the best thing he's ever done.

"I enjoy every minute of it.", said Pedley, who lives in Walsall, West Midlands.

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"It's the best thing I've ever done. I don't know anyone older than 92 playing." 

He said that while others who play might be "faster" than he is, "it's all in the technique."

There are "a lot of people in their 60s" who play, he said, "but I play the younger people, too. I try to play everybody at the club.

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"I'll keep going for as long as I can, as long as my health stays. Sitting on your backside is no help to anyone."

He said he first found his passion for ping-pong while he was a teenager and let it go for a while when he was in his 20s.

But once he reached his 60s, he rediscovered his love of the sport after a chance game with a friend while on vacation, he said.

He then started playing regularly again while also continuing to stay involved in bowling, swimming and judo. He's a brown belt.

Pedley said he believes he's gotten better at ping-pong because of the standard of skill in those he's playing against these days.

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He added, jokingly, "I do let these [them] win sometimes, though, because I don't want to dishearten them."

Pedley goes to the club on Tuesdays and Fridays, he said, spending up to three hours each time.

"I don't want to sit here and do nothing," he said. "I like to keep myself healthy. … I keep going. It makes me get up and do it.

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"Once you're committed, you have to try and turn up. I'd tell anyone to join a club to start with.

"I've done amateur competitions. I've got certificates from what I've achieved at table tennis."

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"He'll always put his heart into it," club Secretary Tony Reeds told SWNS about Pedley/.

He said Pedley will play against "anyone" who comes into the club to play ping-pong.

"He's part of the furniture now. He's had some good games."

Pedley tells people, "If you want to keep fit, this is the way to do it," Reeds noted.

Older people are wise to stay active, eat well, remain connected to others and take care of themselves both physically and mentally in other ways as well, health and medical experts have long said. 

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared on Capitol Hill Wednesday for the confirmation hearing for HHS Secretary, supporters and leaders in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement gathered to show their support.

Among the supporters was Marla Maples, ex-wife of President Trump and mother to Tiffany Trump, who co-founded the Global Wellness Forum.

The organization "unites and empowers groups and activists worldwide, amplifying their efforts to promote health, sovereignty, truth and transparency," according to its website.

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Maples spoke with Fox News Digital in an on-camera interview sharing her excitement for the MAHA movement and her hopes for a healthier America under her friend Kennedy.

"I have to support America's health, our children's health … we suffered so long with what they're putting in our food supply without having consent on what we're getting medically," said Maples.

Maples added, "It's the most important thing I think we have for ourselves [and] our children … and I have a little grandbaby coming, so I want to make sure we leave a cleaner world for our children's children, too."

Tiffany, 30, is expecting a child with her husband Michael Boulos, President Trump announced in October. 

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Maples shared that Americans should "read every label" of the food they are consuming.

"Just make sure you stay away from corn syrups, any artificial colors. I've been telling people forever. No refined sugars." 

Maples said she believes Americans should rely on their own intuition when it comes to their health.

"Truly, you have an inner sense of what's good for us, and really trusting that, taking time and just caring enough about yourself."

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She added, "It's really about maintaining your own health and being your own best doctor."

Maples also advocated for people growing their own food when possible.

"If you have the chance to grow your own garden, that's the best. I used to do it growing up. Now I live in a condo and I have little herbs growing."

The wellness advocate is also a big believer in the power of prayer, sharing, "Be really sure before you put anything in your body and pray over it all."

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To stay fit both physically and mentally, Maples shared that she does handstands and lots of stretching.

"If I have a chance to play a sport during the week, I'll get out and do that because it keeps my mind very clear and helps my mind be very focused."

Representatives of the Global Wellness Forum were also seen supporting Kennedy at his confirmation hearing.

"We're going to be helping support Bobby and Bobby's initiatives in the government … making sure there's a way we can bring teams together to support what he's going to be doing in the government, so we can support in the community," Maples added.

A man who served in World War II as an airman recently turned 100 years old — and celebrated in style with two different birthday parties. 

He also said the smartphone has been one of the most significant inventions in his lifetime — plus shared his tips for living a long and healthy life. 

John Fife, who lives in Clevedon, in North Somerset in the U.K., turned 100 on Dec. 26, 2024, news agency SWNS reported.

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He celebrated first with family and friends at a hotel — and second with friends and neighbors in the lounge at Coleridge Court, a McCarthy Stone Retiring Living development, as SWNS noted.

He said, "I feel very fortunate that I still enjoy good health and am able to get out and about."

Born and educated in Edinburgh, Fife said he was called up for national service with the Royal Air Force in 1943. 

He trained as a wireless operator and air gunner in the RAF, SWNS said. 

He then served with Coastal Command Air/Sea Rescue until he was demobilized in 1946.

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After leaving the military, Fife got married and started a career in the civil service with the Post Office Savings Bank in two different locations.

He, his wife and their two sons moved to Glasgow in 1966 where, following the separation of the Savings Bank from the Post Office, he worked on setting up a new headquarters for the Savings Bank, known today in the U.K. as National Savings & Investments, the same source noted.

During this time, he received special recognition for his services.

"In 1970, I was presented to Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to the headquarters of the new Department," Fife said, as SNWS reported.

He retired from the Civil Service in 1984 and moved to Clevedon to be nearer his sons.

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So how does he keep active even today? 

"I start each day with a fixed goal, such as a long walk or going to church, and I love completing jigsaws," he said, as SWNS reported.

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He said he's also "made new friends and started new activities since moving to Coleridge Court in 2022."

When asked for his secrets of living a long life, Fife was quite clear.

"Make a decision to do things and carry them out and do what you can to help the less fortunate," he said.

He said medical advances throughout his years on Earth have been extraordinary — and also named the smartphone as probably the most significant development he's witnessed in his 100 years.

With President Donald Trump back in the White House, many of America’s doctors are welcoming the new administration’s greater focus on health and wellness.

The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative — led by incoming Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — aims to improve nutrition, eliminate toxins, preserve natural habitats and fight the chronic disease epidemic, according to its website.

Several physicians shared with Fox News Digital what they hope and expect to see on the health front during the next four years.

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As Trump takes back the White House, Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said he looks forward to a greater focus on mental health.

"The mental health epidemic is worsening, including among our teens," he told Fox News Digital — a problem that he said is worsened by "social media overreach."

"The best approach is connectivity, and a return to a time of community and family priorities," said Siegel, who is also a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health. "I am hopeful that President Trump will emphasize this."

The doctor is also optimistic that the new administration will focus on pandemic preparedness, based on lessons learned from COVID-19.

In particular, Siegel said he hopes to see increased surveillance, advances in biotechnology and the use of artificial intelligence to track threats.

Personalized medicine will also be a focus in Trump’s White House, Siegel predicted, with an increased use of wearables.

"We could save hundreds of billions of dollars with DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) and HHS addressing health care rather than sick care," Siegel said. 

"The focus will be on wellness, lifestyle, exercise and diet," he added, along with a "war on ultraprocessed foods."

Dr. Ken Berry, a family physician and diabetes specialist in Tennessee, shared with Fox News Digital that he hopes Trump’s presidency will be a "new golden age for American health."

"For too long, the practice of medicine has been polluted by corporate profits, questionable research, silenced physicians and misleading statements to the public," said Berry, who helps patients overcome obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

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"I hope to see a thoughtful re-evaluation of all existing research, the restoration of an unhindered doctor-patient relationship, the cessation of direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising, and an end to Big Food's misleading health claims," Berry went on.

The doctor also encourages a "vigorous effort" to educate Americans on genuinely healthy food and lifestyle choices, along with a "renewed cultural appreciation for the idea that being healthy and happy is not only achievable, but also aspirational."

Dr. Robert Lufkin, a California physician who is also a medical professor at UCLA and USC, applauded the new administration’s goal to address the rise in chronic diseases, including a focus on lifestyle factors and exposure to chemicals.

"I am excited about this administration's possible health actions in several areas," he shared with Fox News Digital.

In particular, Lufkin said the new administration aims to "prioritize research into environmental triggers such as pesticides, industrial pollutants and food additives."

"They also plan to advocate for transparency in corporate practices and stricter regulation of industries contributing to environmental degradation," he added.

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Lufkin also highlighted MAHA’s goal to improve food safety and nutrition and to reduce exposure to unhealthy substances.

"This could be done by regulating harmful ingredients like artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup and chemical additives in processed foods," he said.

Lufkin also supports the administration's goal to restrict unhealthy foods for public assistance programs and to encourage local and sustainable farming.

Shifting the health care system’s focus from treatment to prevention is another important part of MAHA's agenda, the doctor noted.

This could involve expanding alternative and holistic therapies and educating the public on the importance of lifestyle changes, including exercise, proper nutrition and stress management, he noted.

"Another goal is to minimize reliance on pharmaceuticals and encourage the use of natural treatments and non-drug interventions for common conditions," Lufkin said.

The doctor also applauded the new administration’s plans to combat corporate influence in health care, and to "examine the pharmaceutical and chemical industries’ values of prioritizing profits over public health."

Dr. Shana Johnson, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician in Scottsdale, Arizona, said she hopes the Trump administration continues to build on its policy of increasing price transparency for clinics, hospitals, health insurers and pharmaceutical companies. 

"Hidden prices, manipulated many times over, have allowed Americans to be overcharged and exploited for profit, whether it's generic medications being marked up by 1,000% or an emergency room visit for dehydration costing $5,000," she told Fox News Digital. 

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In many cases, she noted, prices are "essentially hidden and manipulated," which means the consumer has no idea of the cost basis or true value of a service.  

"I am seeing more price manipulation to make it look like health insurance is paying for services, when they are actually upcharging the service," she said. 

"For example, if I pay the cash price for a mammogram, it is less expensive than if I use my health insurance," Johnson went on. "This is true for generic drugs as well."

The Trump administration has a "great opportunity" to address the growing mental health crisis in America, according to Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in Manhattan and Washington, D.C.

"I truly believe the Trump administration has an opportunity and responsibility to address mental health in a way that helps people build resilience, not just catering to political or cultural trends," he told Fox News Digital.

One of Alpert’s big concerns, he shared, is that the "woke" culture may be inadvertently contributing to a mental health crisis. 

"While it’s important to validate emotions and acknowledge systemic challenges, there’s a growing trend of overpathologizing normal human struggles and promoting victimhood as an identity," Alpert said. 

Rather than "overemphasizing individual traumas or identity-based grievances," Alpert calls for a focus on accountability and personal growth.

"We need policies that foster self-reliance and mental toughness while still offering support for those who genuinely struggle," he said.

In Trump’s administration, Alpert said he hopes to see a commitment to mental health initiatives that foster both support and personal responsibility. 

"This includes improving access to therapy, but also addressing how social media, divisive rhetoric and identity politics are affecting young people’s sense of self-worth and mental health," he said. 

"There’s a real danger in allowing cultural narratives to dictate how we approach mental health, turning it into a political battleground instead of a space for growth."

"Not every challenge is trauma, not every disagreement is harmful and not every failure stems from systemic oppression," Alpert went on. 

Rather than encouraging victimhood, therapy should help people take ownership of their lives, develop resilience and thrive despite adversity, according to the psychotherapist.

As Donald Trump assumes the presidency, the U.S. looks to his administration with hopes for "substantial improvements in public health," according to Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert.

"A key expectation is a commitment to reforming health care policy to make it more accessible and affordable," he told Fox News Digital.                        

"This could involve fostering competition in the health care market (thereby driving insurance premiums down), enhancing price transparency at the hospital level, and expanding coverage options to ensure that families across all income levels receive adequate care."

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Osborn also hopes that the administration will tackle obesity by incentivizing healthier food options, more explicit nutritional labeling, and support for physical activity initiatives at schools.

"Furthermore, addressing food supplies in underserved areas could promote better access to fresh, nutrient-rich foods, reducing diet-related illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease," he added.  

Another expectation is an emphasis on preventive instead of reactive care, according to Osborn.

"Encouraging regular health screenings to identify risk factors for disease and supporting wellness education campaigns could significantly reduce the burden of preventable diseases," he said.

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Ultimately, Osborn went on, the new administration has the potential to prioritize health — "not just as a matter of policy, but as a cornerstone of national prosperity." 

"Without health on an individual and national scale, the nation will continue to falter," the doctor said. 

"However, as President Trump said during his inauguration speech, ‘From this moment on, America’s decline is over.’"

Made a New Year's resolution to get fit and healthy again?

One gym owner says good luck with that — because there's no place for new joiners in the month of January at his venue.

Gym owner Clayton Leah, 31, has been turning away potential new members at his gym, Ascendancy Fitness, even though this is the busiest time of year, he told Fox News Digital in a phone interview on Saturday, Jan. 4. "We stopped sign-ups on New Year's Eve," he said.

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He has a specific reason for his unusual stance, he said.

The purpose is to protect existing gym members and long-time fitness practitioners from an influx of new joiners, he told Fox News Digital.

Often, he said, the eager January newcomers wind up dropping away as their intentions to maintain a New Year's resolution wear off. 

Leah said in part that he did not want "to annoy all of our existing members who have been with us for so long."

He added of his gym's news, "I would hate to focus more on the negative than the positive. The response has been overwhelmingly positive," he told Fox News Digital on Saturday.

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"The majority of people appreciate the fact that we've done this and see why we've done it," he also said. "We've always prioritized our membership experience — it's so important to us."

For those who are criticizing his gym for a "not smart" business move, it's actually "been the opposite," he said. 

"The first priority is our members, and they are highly appreciative of what we're doing," he said. 

"Naturally, we have some inquiries about joining. And I've said this before, but as soon as you take something away from people, then people want it more. But that's not why we've done this." 

"We wanted to try and break the mold," he also told news agency SWNS.

He said he's trying to "take an unconventional approach and protect our existing members – that is the most important thing for us."

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The gym is located in Warrington, Cheshire, in England, roughly halfway between Liverpool and Manchester.

His gym has about 650 current members. It also gives one-time day passes for those who want to work out there. 

Leah said he hopes his gym's decision would encourage people to join the gym throughout the year — rather than just in January, when people are drawn to the venue because of ambitious New Year's resolutions. 

He said the fitness industry "is an amazing industry" and "we're trying to help people with whatever fitness and health goals they have."

The gym owner said the only negative reaction to the blocked memberships had been from those hoping to join. 

He said, "The only negative response people have is a case of ‘I was going to join, but now I can’t.'"

He added, "For those people, I say, ‘Well, you should have joined sooner,'" he told SWNS.

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This is not the first case of gyms or fitness clubs banning new members in January.

Equinox, a luxury fitness club, banned new members on Jan. 1, 2023, as Fox News Digital previously reported. 

It was part of a "We Don't Speak January" campaign to discourage short-term New Year's resolutions and encourage long-term commitment. 

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Certified personal trainer and strength coach Melissa Kendter of Pennsylvania said every trainer’s "main passion" should be guiding others toward leading a healthier lifestyle and building long-term success with sustainable habits, as Fox News Digital also previously reported.

Leah of Ascendancy Fitness said his gym is likely to reopen to new memberships in February, although the gym doesn't have a specific date confirmed as yet.

"Obviously our plan was to avoid the January influx," he told Fox News Digital. 

Angelica Stabile of Fox News Digital contributed reporting. 

Getting a certain number of daily steps has long been known to boost overall health — and now a new study has pinpointed how many you need to keep depression at bay.

A research team led by Bruno Bizzozero-Peroni, PhD, from Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha in Cuenca, Spain, analyzed 33 studies involving 96,173 adults.

In comparing the adults’ daily step counts and rates of depression, they found that people with higher daily step counts tended to have fewer depressive symptoms, according to the study findings, which were published in JAMA Network Open last week.

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Getting 5,000 or more steps was linked to reduced depressive symptoms, while a step count of 7,000 or higher was associated with a lower risk of depression, the researchers found.

"Our results showed significant associations between higher numbers of daily steps and fewer depressive symptoms, as well as lower prevalence and risk of depression in the general adult population," the authors wrote in the findings.

"The objective measurement of daily steps may represent an inclusive and comprehensive approach to public health that has the potential to prevent depression."

More than 7% of U.S. adults have been diagnosed with depression, with those between 12 and 25 years old most affected, according to data from the National Institute of Mental Health.

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Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, was not involved in the study but commented on the review.

"This is an extensive analysis of over 30 observational studies, so it needs to be followed up with prospective randomized studies," he told Fox News Digital. 

"There is already a vast body of evidence, including this study, that exercise is associated with mood improvement, a natural antidepressant."  

The reason that a higher step count reduces depression isn't only psychological, the doctor said — it's also physical. 

"Exercise increases the release of the ‘happy hormones’ — dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin," Siegel added.

Previous studies have found that walking has effects on brain networks that are essential in improving mood, depression and anxiety, according to Dr. Richard A. Bermudes, a psychiatrist and chief medical officer of BrainsWay in Nevada.

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"The more sedentary we are, or the more we sit, the more depressed we get," Bermudes, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. 

"We also know that there is an incremental benefit to walking — every increase of 1,000 steps per day was associated with a 9% lower risk of depression."

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Genetics, psychological factors and social stressors also play a role in depression, he noted.

"However, we know that natural light exposure, general movement and walking in natural settings or nature have positive mood effects." 

Bermudes encourages those struggling with depression to "take it one step at a time."

"For those with severe depression, try incrementally day after day, increasing by 100 steps each day," he suggested. 

"If you work and are stuck at a desk most days, schedule 15-minute breaks to exercise the brain by taking a walk."

Walking outside is more beneficial, Bermudes added, as it provides natural light exposure.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for comment.