In an interview with CBS News last year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in his role as health secretary, commented on the state of American health through a parable. He stated, “If you want to eat doughnuts all day or drink sodas, that’s your choice.” He further questioned if society should care for individuals who become ill due to such choices.

Mr. Kennedy’s remarks are not isolated incidents. During an event in West Virginia, he joked about the governor’s weight, suggesting a public weigh-in until weight loss was achieved. He proposed that the obesity epidemic could be addressed with three nutritious meals a day. He dismissed proven interventions like GLP-1s, indicating skepticism about companies like those behind Ozempic and Wegovy, and suggesting a reliance on the perceived ignorance of Americans.

Mr. Kennedy’s language reflects a past approach to obesity, focusing on personal willpower rather than treating it as a chronic condition. This marks a departure from contemporary ideas of body positivity and “health at every size,” reverting to notions of blame and personal discipline.

Some see this stance as moral clarity, while many public health officials view it as harmful and outdated. Allan Brandt, a historian at Harvard Medical School, noted a resurgence of stigmas thought to be diminishing.

Over recent decades, public health messaging has shifted away from harsh, virtue-driven narratives. However, Mr. Kennedy’s approach challenges this shift, as there’s a perception that compassion has become synonymous with indulgence. The structural factors like food deserts, which explain health disparities, are now seen by some as overshadowing personal accountability.