Is "Make America Healthy Again" Actually Helping Public Health?

Is America REALLY less healthy than it used to be? Or is that just a myth? 

Lately, the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement has been romanticizing the past—but was it really a "healthier" time? 🤔 Higher infant mortality, shorter life expectancy, and limited medical advancements suggest otherwise.

Today, I’m joined by Nini Munoz, Science & Risk Communicator, and Dr. Jessica Knurick, Dietitian & Nutrition Scientist, to break down:

• The myth of the 'healthier past'—why public health was worse, not better.
• Misinformation & fear-based narratives—how MAHA spreads harmful myths about vaccines, food, and disease.
• The real problem with food policy—why fixating on seed oils & food dyes distracts from real issues like ultra-processed food and food deserts.
• The wellness industry’s role—how influencers profit off fear with detoxes, supplements, and misinformation via predatory wellness.
• What actually improves health—real solutions like healthcare access, school lunch reform, and food subsidies.

It’s time to stop falling for misguided nostalgia and start focusing on evidence-based solutions that actually improve public health.  Tune in now!

To connect with Jessica Knurick follow her on Instagram @drjessicaknurick and check out all her resources at https://linktr.ee/drjessicaknurick 

To connect with Nini Munoz follow her on Instagram @niniandthebrain and join her on Substack: https://techingitapart.substack.com/ 

We’d like to know who is listening! Please fill out our Listener Survey to help us improve the show and learn about you!

00:00 — Misleading Comparisons: Japan, Fluoride, and Health Outcomes

00:00:52 — Welcome to the Show: What MAHA Gets Wrong

00:01:39 — Fear-Based Distractions vs. Real Public Health Solutions

00:02:53 — Meet the Experts: Dr. Jessica and Nini Munoz

00:03:23 — Are Americans Less Healthy Now? Breaking Down the Data

00:07:01 — Why Living Longer Means Facing Chronic Disease

00:09:51 — Screening, Diagnostics, and Better Detection—Not a Health Decline

00:11:13 — The Missing Conversation: America’s Broken Food Environment

00:14:15 — Red Dye 40 & Skittles: Why This Isn't Solving Chronic Disease

00:17:39 — Targeted Marketing & Food Access: A System Built Against Low-Income Families

00:22:00 — Poverty, Policy, and Public Health Failures

00:27:01 — Lessons From Colombia: How Classism and Privatization Worsen Health Outcomes

00:31:31 — Vaccines, Autism, and Recycling Disproven Theories

00:37:08 — Why Some Pediatricians Push Alternative Schedules

00:39:10 — Predatory Wellness: The Business of Fear and False Solutions

00:43:13 — The Wellness Industry Formula: Scare, Distract, Sell

00:46:30 — When Wellness Fails: Who Do We Turn To?

00:49:10 — Healthcare Reform & Public Trust: Fixing the Root Problems

00:51:12 — Final Thoughts: Real Solutions for a Healthier America

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and subscribe to PedsDocTalk.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠!

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships page of the website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices