May is the national month of physical education and sportsan initiative that began in 1983 when it was first recognized by President Ronald Reagan. Reagan recognized the importance of health and wellness for all Americans when he first designated National Physical Education and Sports Month.
“Many individuals, families, communities and others are increasingly concerned about physical fitness, and there is a growing recognition that Physical activity is an important part of everyday life for people of both sexes and all ages, – said Reagan.
Each president has issued proclamations to maintain the Reagan tradition, but the focus on the health and fitness of the nation’s citizens can be traced back three decades. In 1955, then-President Dwight Eisenhower was made aware of the Kraus-Weber test, which compared the muscle strength and flexibility of American school children with European children. The results were surprising to the White House: about 60% of American children failed at least one of the basic strength tests, while only about 9% of European children failed.
Seeing the physical shortage as a matter of national security, Eisenhower took action. A decision was made in 1956 with the signing of Executive Order No. 10673, which established the President’s Council on Youth Fitness to develop solutions to help the nation’s children improve their physical health.
History and Evolution of the President’s Fitness Council
The council has evolved over the years because of its role in raising health and fitness awareness for all Americans. It started with President John F. Kennedy, and then his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, who thought that sports should also be included. In 2010, President Barack Obama chose to include nutrition as well as physical education.
Along with the change in focus, the council also went through several names, eventually becoming the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition (PCSFN). As the United States enters the “Decade of Sport” with the upcoming World Cup, the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Summer Olympics in Salt Lake City, PCSFN is celebrating its 70th anniversary and its work is as important as ever. President Donald Trump confirmed this in his latest announcement of National Physical Education and Sports Month by reinstating the Presidential Fitness Award and the Presidential Fitness Test.
Trump said, “Physical fitness sharpens the mind, strengthens the will, and creates the kind of character that Americans have in every aspect of their lives. Citizens who hold themselves to this standard of excellence are capable of meeting all the challenges of today’s world.”
The Role of Bodybuilding in the American Health Movement
If one looks at the evolution and history of the PCSFN, they will see that bodybuilding has had a profound impact on fitness on a national level. President Kennedy asked advice from fitness icon Jack LaLanne during the rebranding period of 1961. LaLanne worked behind the scenes to help develop realistic physical education programs that were introduced to America’s public schools, including gymnastics and other exercises that did not require any equipment.
Fast forward to 1990, when 41st President George H.W. Bush came to work seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger to be the chairman of the council. Schwarzenegger served in this role until 1993, and it can be considered the roots of his political career, when he became the governor of California in 2003. He saw it as not just a privilege, but a form of payment for what he believed America had given him.
“The President’s Council was my chance to pay my rent to the country that made me,” Schwarzenegger said while reflecting on his appointment at one of his Great American Workout events. Six years after Schwarzenegger’s tenure ended, another Mr. Olympic champion in the form of eight-time winner Lee Haneywho worked for Presidents Clinton and Bush (43). Haney focused on community involvement in the fitness movement, including calling on moms and dads to be role models for the next generation.
During his tenure, Haney stated, “Parents must be role models. Don’t click; do as I say, not as I do. We are the first and most important role models for our children.”
President Trump also reached out to the bodybuilding world for leaders to guide his administration on what is best for health and fitness. Former Mr. Supreme and Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrino was at PCSFN during Trump’s first term. Joining Ferrino on this version of the board were International Sports Hall of Fame president and founder Dr. Robert Goldman and current M&F editor Rob Wilkins, both of whom had direct ties to the IFBB and its founders Joe and Ben Weider.
Bodybuilding’s support for the nation’s health and fitness continues today. As soon as 2024, M&F and Olympia were represented at the PCSFN Annual Meeting. Wilkins and Olympia President Dan Solomon spoke with members and leaders about the importance of health for all Americans and how bodybuilding can play an important role in spreading that message. After the meeting, Solomon expressed his gratitude for the work done by PCSFN, which continues today in Trump’s second term.
“The room was full of amazing people,” Sulaiman said after the meeting. “The council plays an important role in educating Americans about longevity, strength, fitness and overall health.”
The Future of American Physical Education and Sports
As the United States celebrates its bicentennial (250th), health and fitness are more important than ever. There has never been as much research on longevity, exercise, nutrition, recovery, sleep and exercise as there is in 2026. This is happening at a time when more than 75% of the country’s youth are not qualified to serve in the army. Even as we move past the fourth century into the 21st century, physical fitness can be viewed as a matter of national security, hence actions such as the rollback of the presidential fitness test. Wilkins saw the importance of the sports decade two years ago and highlighted why it will be important for the next ten years.
“I believe the upcoming US Olympic Games in ’28 and ’34 are a unique opportunity to raise awareness and promote physical activity, especially among our youth. It’s also the perfect time to focus on national health.” To support the resurgent test, the Trump administration has also established whitehouse.gov/fitnessan interactive page that outlines the fitness goals that young Americans should strive for so they can earn the President’s Physical Fitness Award. He also brought in new members of the PCSFN, including new chairman and two-time US golf champion Bryson DeChambo.
Bodybuilding is also featured in this version of the board thanks to the inclusion of WWE Hall of Famer and former Olympia host Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Levesque competed on stage in his younger years and has been a supporter of the sport for decades.
While both the board and bodybuilding have evolved over the past 70 years, one thing remains constant: athletes, publishers and fitness industry leaders are invaluable allies in the nation’s cause. Eisenhower’s actions set the stage for generations to come, and it is now up to the citizens of today to set an example for the next generation. Focusing on your health and being the best you can be is not only good for yourself, it can be a small but direct way to continue to serve yourself, your family, and the community in which you live. The better each of us gets, the better America gets.
For more information on PCSFN and current guidelines, go to their website.
