Newly elected President John F. Kennedy, in his Sports Illustrated, emphasized the importance of a physically fit and healthy America to remain a strong nation. article “The gentle American”. Decades later, Americans’ physical and mental health are far too often neglected, putting the future of our great nation in jeopardy. An unhealthy population is not only an unproductive population, but also a population that lacks positive moral and general well-being that allows us to thrive in our daily lives – at home, at school and at work. We owe it to our children to dedicate the necessary resources and design and implement the right initiatives to address the troubling health trends we are witnessing.
As an orthopedic surgeon, I see firsthand the health benefits of routine exercise for general well-being and overall quality of life. But we are falling short. Today, more than one in five American children and teens are obese, yet only about 25% get the recommended daily dose of physical activity. Furthermore, the prevalence of mental and behavioral health problems among adolescents continues to increase at an alarming rate, by 35% between 2016 and 2023. This is unacceptable and we must do better.
Fortunately, efforts are underway to address the growing child and adolescent health crisis associated with sedentary lifestyles and worsening mental health. On July 31, 2025, President Donald Trump signed. Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating the presidential eligibility test. Since that time, numerous states, including Mississippi and Tennessee, have shown their strong support for the program as the exact design and implementation of a revived presidential eligibility test has been ironed out.
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Reinstating the presidential eligibility test is not just about nostalgia, but is necessary for public health, national resilience, and American prosperity; here are design considerations and the lessons this intervention can teach our next generation.
First, we must ensure that the updated presidential eligibility test is evidence-based and uses the latest gold standard science. The Presidential Fitness Test, which was created by President D. Eisenhower in 1956 and periodically updated until it fell out of favor, could be redesigned today to focus on exercises and related physical benchmarks that better measure key components of health (e.g., functional strength and aerobic capacity). Once the components of the test are identified and approved by experts, physical education curricula can be adjusted to better teach students the importance of staying physically active and how to best prepare and train for the annual assessment. Resources for physical education teachers to support the educational mission associated with the test will be critical.
Second, attention must be paid to both personal growth rates and national competition. These ideas are not mutually exclusive. Critics of the Presidential Fitness Test have argued that it places too much emphasis on athletic ability over general health and that because the test is conducted in a public setting, it can damage self-esteem and mental health. However, if we emphasize both internal and external competition and support all children in finding tangible ways to discover joy in routine physical activity as part of more robust physical education curriculum support, this criticism falls apart.
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It is important that, in addition to a new focus on personal growth figures, the national competitive component must continue to exist. Not only is there great pride in receiving a certificate and emblem from the US President when you win an award, but it also helps you learn perseverance, resilience and an important life lesson: some things are difficult, but perseverance, determination and dedication can lead to improvement. Effort matters, and there are no shortcuts around hard work. Yet participants may not succeed in winning a prize; learning that it’s okay to get knocked down, but more importantly to get back up again is a skill in itself. Simply doing away with standards and the spirit of competition doesn’t help anyone in the long run.
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Third, the rapid growth and adoption of fitness technology, such as wearables, presents an opportunity for an updated presidential fitness test to access and use more accurate and relevant health data. For example, heart rate monitors can identify students who can keep their heart rate in a “healthy” target zone while exercising. Furthermore, digital health tools can help gamify physical activity, enticing more people to stay physically active. Using technology to support more consistent physical activity can teach children that digital tools can be a catalyst for exercise, not just a sedentary lifestyle.
With the US turning 250 years old in 2026 and set to welcome many of the world’s biggest sporting competitions in the coming years, including the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, there is no better time to reintroduce a modernized presidential fitness test. By doing so, the Administration is making a clear commitment to the American people that it will work hand-in-hand with them to improve the health and well-being of the next generation. It was time to bring the Presidential Fitness Test back to school gym classes across America in a revamped way – all it took was bold, decisive leadership.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any employer or affiliated institution.
