Meet Casey Means, Trump’s Pick for Surgeon General
May 10, 2025
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Dr. Casey Means, co-founder of Levels and a leading advocate for the Make America Healthy Again movement, discusses her nomination for Surgeon General. She emphasizes the need for root cause medicine to tackle chronic illnesses and critiques the healthcare system's focus on managing symptoms. Casey also addresses the disconnect between health policies and the realities of obesity and diabetes in America. With insights on nutrition, technology, and personal health practices, she champions a proactive approach to improving public health through better dietary choices.
Dr. Casey Means emphasizes the importance of addressing root causes of illness rather than merely treating symptoms in healthcare.
The alarming prevalence of metabolic dysfunction in America highlights the urgent need for dietary changes to combat chronic diseases.
Systemic issues in the healthcare industry, particularly conflicts of interest, necessitate reforms to prioritize prevention over treatment for better health outcomes.
Deep dives
The Role of the U.S. Surgeon General
The U.S. Surgeon General serves as a vital public health figure, acting as the nation’s family doctor. This role involves educating the public about health risks while exerting significant influence over medical and scientific information. Recently, President Trump nominated Dr. Casey Means, known for her rejection of traditional medical practices and her focus on addressing root causes of illness instead of merely treating symptoms. Dr. Means has co-founded Levels, a company dedicated to glucose monitoring, highlighting her commitment to promoting better health outcomes.
Dr. Casey Means' Unique Background
Dr. Casey Means has a distinctive trajectory, transitioning from a medical residency to advocating for root cause medicine. After realizing the inadequacies of treatment methods in hospitals, she left her surgical residency to pursue a path aimed at understanding the underlying issues affecting patient health. Her experiences with patients revealed a troubling trend—many did not see improvements in their health despite multiple treatments for various ailments. This disillusionment drove her to develop a model of health care that prioritizes understanding and addressing the causes of disease rather than merely managing symptoms.
The Illness Epidemic in America
A staggering 74% of Americans are currently overweight or obese, with 52% of adults suffering from prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, often without awareness of their condition. Dr. Means emphasizes that these health crises are rooted in metabolic dysfunction, which can manifest in various physical and mental health issues, such as anxiety and infertility. Alarmingly, most chronic diseases can be traced back to inadequacies in how the body processes energy, primarily influenced by diet and lifestyle. The failure to recognize and address these connections constitutes a significant lapse in the current healthcare system.
Food Quality and Metabolic Health
Dr. Means discusses the role of diet in health, particularly the negative impact of processed foods on the body’s metabolic functions. A shift towards consuming real, unprocessed foods is essential for reversing conditions like obesity and diabetes. This includes understanding the adverse effects of ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup and seed oils, which are prevalent in modern diets. Dr. Means argues that eating whole foods can significantly improve metabolic health and reduce chronic disease risk, changing the body's response to food and promoting better overall health.
Challenges Faced by the Healthcare System
The healthcare industry faces numerous systemic issues, including conflicts of interest influenced by pharmaceutical and food companies. Organizations like the American Diabetes Association may prioritize medication over prevention due to substantial financial ties to these industries. Additionally, the healthcare system fails to adequately address metabolic health, resulting in costly treatments rather than effective preventative measures. Dr. Means asserts that changes in campaign financing and healthcare incentives are necessary to facilitate a shift towards a more health-centered approach that emphasizes prevention and lifestyle changes.
The Importance of Individual Responsibility
Dr. Means highlights the critical importance of individual responsibility in achieving and maintaining health. Americans often lack the knowledge and resources to make informed dietary choices, but a greater understanding of metabolic health can empower them. The healthcare system has been slow to promote individual accountability due to fears of stigmatizing those with health issues. Dr. Means suggests encouraging people to take an active role in their health management, as proactive steps towards better nutrition and lifestyle choices can lead to significant improvements in overall well-being.
There’s an endearing saying that the U.S. surgeon general’s primary role is to be the nation’s family doctor. They represent America’s medical community, educate the public on current health risks, and wield tremendous influence over medical and scientific information.
On Thursday, President Trump nominated Dr. Casey Means to take on this important role.
Casey’s background is unique. After attending Stanford Medical School, she dropped out of her residency program in her ninth year, when she realized the course wasn’t addressing the root causes of illness.
In recent years, she has been a leading figure in the Make America Healthy Again movement, speaking out against pharmaceutical, food, and chemical companies, and advocating for “root cause” medicine.
We had Casey on Honestly back in 2022, and today, we’re replaying that episode so you can better understand who Casey Means is, what she believes, how we got so sick, and how she wants to tackle chronic illness.
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