Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visits Newton to relaunch Presidential Fitness Test
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Updated: 5:30 PM CDT Aug 17, 2026Editorial Standards ⓘ
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visits Newton to relaunch Presidential Fitness Test
Updated: 5:30 PM CDT Aug 17, 2026Editorial Standards ⓘ
NEWTON, Iowa —
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited the YMCA in Newton Monday to promote child health, fitness, and nutrition
Kennedy was joined by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks to relaunch the Presidential Physical Fitness Test, which aims to measure student core strength, cardio, and upper-body fitness through a variety of activities
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“We think discontinuing this test was contributing to this malaise, mental health crisis, to the physical fitness crisis, and to the chronic disease crisis in our country,” Kennedy said
The Presidential Physical Fitness Test, originally created in the 1950s under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, was re-established earlier this year with updates to its format
“It really is this community effort, public-private partnership that’s meeting the needs of both the community, and the children,” Miller-Meeks said
Kennedy also encouraged healthier eating habits and praised Iowa’s efforts to reduce screen time for children
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