‘Fight of my life’: Mike Tyson knocks out processed food in MAHA push for healthy diet

Iconic boxer Mike Tyson said Wednesday he is fully committed to helping President Trump and his team implement dietary guidelines that will help Americans “eat real food” and lead healthier lives.

Wearing a tan suit and turtleneck, Mr. Tyson said converting people to healthier diets is “ the biggest fight of my life.”

“I want to be a hero in this particular field,” he told people gathered at the Department of Health and Human Services to celebrate the new 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines. 

Mr. Tyson said growing up in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York, he didn’t have access to healthy food.

“Ultra-processed food was just the norm,” Mr. Tyson said. “That’s just all we knew.”

Mr. Tyson said he needed a master trainer to help him get fit, and now he wants to help others by promoting healthier eating.

“Every time I see someone who may be obese, I have an affinity for them. I want to be close to them, talk to them and let them know I’m their friend,” Mr. Tyson said. “I’m just very grateful to be here and fight this fight.”

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins enlisted Mr. Tyson to give heavyweight gravitas to the rollout of their dietary guidelines.

The guidelines urge Americans to eat more protein and full-fat dairy, while cutting back on ultra-processed foods and added sugar.

Ultra-processed foods generally include industrial thickeners and stabilizers, plus ingredients such as high-fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils.

The new guidelines emphasize protein at every meal and encourage people to eat up to 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, up from the previous recommendation of 0.8 grams.

The guidelines also promote full-fat dairy alongside fruits and vegetables, while clamping down on added sugars and refined carbohydrates.

“We flipped the script literally, putting high-quality protein, dairy, healthy fats, vibrant vegetables and fruits where they belong, front and center,” U.S. Chief Design Officer Joe Gebbia said. “Whole grains form a solid base, and highly processed junk? It’s finally called out for what it is.”

Ms. Rollins said her agency would release guidance on Wednesday that urges states to incorporate the guidelines into school lunches and other program meals and snacks.

Mr. Kennedy said converting to a real-food diet would greatly reduce rates of chronic disease and benefit different levels of society.  He pointed to studies that show reductions in discipline problems at prisons when the institutions switch to healthier food. 

“This is the defining health crisis of our time,” Mr. Kennedy said. “Every parent in this country knows that something is wrong with the American diet.”

Wednesday’s event included a big roster of backers, including American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala.

“We must champion healthy eating not just as a suggestion, but as a national priority,” he said.

Mr. Tyson starred in an emotional Super Bowl ad over the weekend that focused on his sister, who died of an obesity-related heart attack.

Film director Brett Ratner, who directed the ad, called it one of the greatest experiences of his life.

“I’m a big admirer of Secretary Kennedy and, of course, President Trump,” said Mr. Ratner, who directed first lady Melania Trump’s recent documentary. “I’m going to make a promise to everybody in this room. Next time you see me, from this moment on, I am only eating real food, and I will be in better shape next time you see me.”