Trump revives Presidential Fitness Test to combat childhood obesity nationwide

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to revive the Presidential Fitness Test and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. The move aims to tackle childhood obesity by expanding youth sports and active play in schools. A new council, led by professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, will oversee the initiative. The Presidential Fitness Test was first introduced in 1956 under President Dwight Eisenhower. It later faced criticism for its rigid standards, which did not account for individual differences in physical ability. By 2013, the programme was replaced by the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, using the FitnessGram to assess student wellness more holistically.

The new executive order reinvigorates the council’s role in promoting physical activity. It will develop school-based programmes that reward excellence in physical education. Criteria for a revised Presidential Fitness Award will also be established. Joining DeChambeau on the council are NFL stars Nick Bosa, Saquon Barkley, and Tua Tagovailoa. The order emphasises the benefits of sports, including improved physical health, mental well-being, and civic engagement among young people.

The council’s work will focus on increasing children’s participation in sports and active play. Schools will receive support to implement fitness programmes that recognise diverse abilities. The initiative seeks to create lasting changes in how physical education is approached across the U.S.