Kennedy's controversial push to end the 'war on saturated fats' with new dietary guidelines
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is set to challenge conventional wisdom by advocating for increased saturated fat consumption among Americans. This move comes with the anticipated release of new dietary guidelines on Wednesday, which have been described as "rooted in rigorous science" by the HHS.
Despite decades of advice from doctors and dietitians suggesting otherwise, Kennedy's plan could potentially revolutionize the food system and culture in the country. The specifics of the plan remain undisclosed, but Kennedy has consistently expressed support for higher saturated fat intake. News reports in October indicated that Kennedy intended to recommend a diet richer in saturated fats.
In a November event, Kennedy boldly proclaimed, "We’re ending the war on saturated fats in this country. So, we’re going to publish dietary guidelines that are going to stress the importance of protein and saturated fats. And those will come out, I think, next month. And I think that will really revolutionize the food system in the country, the food culture in this country."
The timing of the announcement, just before the holidays, was reportedly postponed to this week. If the guidelines align with Kennedy's statements, they will significantly diverge from established public health guidelines.
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) and the American Heart Association recommend limiting saturated fats to less than 10% and 6% of one's diet, respectively. According to 2017-2018 data from the National Center for Health Statistics, Americans on average consumed 28 grams of saturated fats daily, with toddlers and infants expected to consume a higher percentage of fat. The ODPHP generally advises consuming less than 20 grams per day.
Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and include butter, lard, coconut oil, beef tallow, cheese, and palm kernel oil. Health authorities began advising against high saturated fat consumption in the 1950s due to evidence linking it to high cholesterol and heart disease.
Subsequent investigations and reviews have further confirmed this guidance. Studies consistently associate high saturated fat intake with higher LDL cholesterol, heart disease, weight gain, and diabetes. A 2025 systematic review found that replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat significantly reduced mortality and major cardiovascular events, particularly in individuals at high cardiovascular risk.
Alison Steiber, Chief Mission, Impact, and Strategy Officer for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, emphasized, "When you look at the systemic reviews that have been published this past year – '24 and '25 and previously – they all point to one thing: lower saturated fat reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease."
Steiber further noted that reducing saturated fat intake leads to better outcomes in patients with obesity and those at risk of cardio-metabolic disease. Kennedy, a self-proclaimed carnivore diet follower, advocates for a diet rich in meat and fermented foods.
However, experts like Frederic Bertley, president and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry, caution against extreme dietary approaches. Bertley highlights the potential short-term benefits of the carnivore diet, such as weight loss and improved blood sugar control, but warns of the long-term risks associated with high saturated fat consumption, including elevated LDL cholesterol and increased heart disease risk.
Critics argue that Kennedy and his allies often cite the dietary habits of other countries and cultures as evidence of their health benefits. However, they emphasize that these examples involve unique cultural and lifestyle factors that cannot be generalized to most populations. Alice H. Lichtenstein, Gershoff Professor of Nutrition Science and Policy, noted the "French paradox," where French people seemingly have lower heart disease rates despite high fat consumption.
Both Lichtenstein and Steiber pointed out that while other countries may consume higher amounts of saturated fat, their populations often engage in more physical activity compared to Americans. Between 2017 and 2020, 25.3% of American adults reported being physically inactive, as defined by federal health authorities.
Kennedy has taken steps to promote physical activity since assuming leadership of the country's health agencies. Despite the potential controversy, Kennedy's dietary guidelines could spark important discussions about the role of saturated fats in a healthy diet.
