US health secretary takes aim at obesity in West Virginia, calls out governor's weight

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., US Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), has set his sights on combating America’s obesity crisis, beginning with West Virginia, the country’s most obese state.

In a joint event with West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, Kennedy not only addressed pressing health policies but also directly challenged the governor on his weight, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Kennedy and Morrisey announced a ban on certain food dyes, which are linked to health problems, as part of an effort to improve public health. The governor also revealed that West Virginia had submitted a waiver to prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants from purchasing soda, a move that Kennedy praised. He urged other governors to follow West Virginia’s example, stating, “If there’s one thing we can agree on, it should be eliminating taxpayer-funded soda subsidies for lower-income kids.”

However, Kennedy took the opportunity to address a more personal matter: Governor Morrisey’s weight. Recalling their first meeting, Kennedy remarked, “The first time I saw him, I said, ‘You look like you ate Governor Morrisey.’” The comment was followed by a humorous yet pointed challenge. “I am going to put him on a really rigorous regimen, and we’re gonna put him on a carnivore diet,” Kennedy quipped.

The HHS Secretary also suggested that Morrisey should do a public weigh-in every month, encouraging the audience to raise their hands if they wanted to see the governor participate. In a bold statement, Kennedy pledged to return to West Virginia for a public celebration and weigh-in once Morrisey loses 30 pounds.

West Virginia currently has the highest obesity rate in the US, with 41.2 per cent of its population classified as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The state’s obesity rate is higher than Arkansas’ 40 per cent and Mississippi’s 40.1 per cent.

As of 2022, the US was ranked the 19th most obese country globally, with 43.29 per cent of adults affected by obesity, according to the World Obesity Foundation.

By Vafa Guliyeva