Boxing legend Mike Tyson has released a deeply personal Super Bowl ad, sponsored by the HHS-aligned nonprofit MAHA Center, as part of a nationwide effort to promote healthy eating, reports Baltimore Chronicle via X. The 30-second video, posted on Tyson’s X account ahead of Super Bowl LX, chronicles his battle with weight and processed food addiction, which at one point brought him close to 350 pounds and triggered thoughts of self-harm. Tyson explicitly warns that processed food can be deadly, linking it to obesity and potential health complications.
The MAHA Center, connected to the Make America Healthy Again initiative from the Trump administration, is funding a broader campaign that includes advertisements in taxis across the country featuring Tyson alongside the message “Processed Food Kills.” Obesity medicine specialist Dr. Holly F. Lofton affirmed the warning, noting that overconsumption of processed foods can result in high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, high triglycerides, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and obesity, highlighting the real health risks associated with such diets.
Tyson’s ad emphasizes both his personal struggles and the potential consequences of obesity. “I was so fat and nasty – I would eat anything,” Tyson says in the video, addressing his nearly six million followers on X. “I had so much self-hate when I was like that,” he adds, with visible emotion. Dr. Lofton stressed to ABC News that discussions about weight should be approached with sensitivity and that individuals experiencing weight-related challenges should consult healthcare providers to develop personalized strategies. She also reminded that anyone feeling hopeless about their weight can seek immediate assistance through the National Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
Processed and manufactured foods contribute to the accumulation of fat cells and the onset of obesity, while mental and environmental factors can further influence weight gain, according to Lofton. Certain ingredients in processed foods may trigger insulin resistance, causing hunger, mental fatigue, and other health concerns. She also noted that preservatives and additives can activate obesity-related genes in individuals through epigenetic mechanisms.
In the video, Tyson recounts the death of his sister, who passed away from a heart attack at age 25 during her own struggle with obesity. He frames his current health journey as “the most important fight of his life,” clarifying, “I’m not fighting for a belt. I’m fighting for our health.”
The campaign aligns with recent public health messaging from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who at a White House event urged Americans to reduce highly processed foods and refined carbohydrates while promoting real food consumption. Kennedy praised Tyson’s ad on X, calling it the most important Super Bowl message in history and emphasizing, “We don’t have to be the sickest country in the developed world. The answer is simple: EAT REAL FOOD.” The White House shared the ad on its X account with the message, “MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN.”
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