If you’ve seen him lately on the news or caught one of those viral workout videos of him doing push-ups shirtless in the sun, you probably did a double-take. He’s got that gravelly voice—the result of spasmodic dysphonia—and a shock of graying hair, but the guy is undeniably ripped. It’s the kind of fitness that makes people stop and ask: how old is Bobby Kennedy Jr anyway?
Honestly, the answer usually surprises people because he has been in the public eye for what feels like forever. He was a kid in the Oval Office with his uncle JFK. He was the young man mourning his father in 1968. Yet, here he is in 2026, serving as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and moving with more energy than most people half his age.
The Numbers: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Current Age
Let’s get the math out of the way. Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. was born on January 17, 1954.
Since it’s now January 2026, he just celebrated a birthday. Bobby Kennedy Jr is 72 years old. He was born at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., the third of eleven children. If you think about the timeline of his life, it’s kinda wild. He’s lived through the peak of the Cold War, the rise of the environmental movement, and now a total transformation of the American political landscape.
Why Everyone Is Obsessed With His Age
Most 72-year-olds are looking at retirement communities or at least slowing down. Kennedy is doing the opposite. Ever since he launched his "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement, his physical condition has become a talking point.
It isn't just vanity. He’s made his own health a sort of "Exhibit A" for the policies he’s pushing at HHS. When he talks about eliminating ultra-processed foods or "toxins" from the environment, he’s pointing to his own vitality as proof that his lifestyle works.
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His "Anti-Aging" Protocol
People always want to know the "secret." Kennedy hasn't been shy about it. He’s gone on record about a pretty intense regimen that would probably break a normal person.
- Intermittent Fasting: He usually sticks to an 18/6 schedule, meaning he only eats during a six-hour window.
- The Gym: He’s been lifting weights for over 50 years. He hits the gym four days a week for high-intensity sets.
- The Hike: Every morning starts with a steep uphill hike with his dogs.
- The "Protocol": He’s admitted to using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) under a doctor's care, though he’s quick to clarify he doesn't touch anabolic steroids.
He’s basically a walking science experiment for the "biohacking" community. Whether you agree with his politics or not, you’ve gotta admit the results are there. He doesn't move like a septuagenarian.
A Life Lived in the Spotlight
To understand how old is Bobby Kennedy Jr in the context of history, you have to look at the "Kennedy Curse" era. He was only nine years old when his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated. He was 14 when his father, Robert F. Kennedy, was killed in Los Angeles.
That’s a lot of trauma for a kid. It’s also a lot of time spent under a microscope.
He spent decades as an environmental lawyer, fighting to clean up the Hudson River. Then he became a polarizing figure during the COVID-19 era. Now, in 2026, he’s arguably the most influential health official in the country. It’s a weird, long arc. Most people would have burnt out by 50.
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The Controversy of His Health Stances
Because he’s 72 and looks great, he has a lot of "health authority" with his followers. But it’s complicated. As the head of HHS, he’s been making some massive changes that have the medical establishment on edge.
Just this week, he’s been in the news for appointing vaccine critics to federal advisory panels and pushing for a $50 billion investment into rural health. He wants to "Make Rural America Healthy Again" by moving away from what he calls "mercantile" interests in the food and drug industries.
Some doctors think he’s a visionary. Others think he’s dangerous.
For instance, his stance on raw milk and seed oils. He hates seed oils. Like, really hates them. He blames them for chronic inflammation. Science is still a bit split on that—some say it’s the "ultra-processed" nature of the food that’s the problem, not just the oil itself. But Kennedy? He’s all in on the "natural" side of things.
What’s Next for the 72-Year-Old?
Kennedy isn't showing signs of slowing down. His term as Secretary of HHS runs through 2029. By the time he finishes this stint, he’ll be 75.
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He’s currently obsessed with the childhood chronic disease epidemic. He often points out that when he was a kid, the rates of autism and diabetes were drastically lower. He’s convinced we can "fix" it in two years by changing what Americans eat.
It’s an ambitious goal. Some would say it's impossible. But if you’re looking for a guy who ignores the "normal" rules of aging and politics, he’s the one.
Actionable Insights: What You Can Learn from the RFK Jr. Lifestyle
If you're looking at Kennedy and thinking, "I want to be that mobile at 70," here is what his routine actually suggests for the average person:
- Consistency is King: He didn't start lifting last year. He’s been at it for five decades. Start small, but don't stop.
- The "Eating Window" Matters: You don't have to fast for 18 hours, but giving your digestive system a break (like 12-14 hours) is widely supported by longevity researchers.
- Incline Training: Walking is good. Walking uphill is better for heart health and muscle retention.
- Get Outside: He does his meditations and hikes outdoors every single morning. There's a real mental health benefit to that "morning light" exposure.
Kennedy’s age is just a number on a birth certificate, but his influence in 2026 is very real. Whether he’s at his desk in D.C. or hiking in California, he’s definitely not acting his age.
Next Steps for Staying Updated:
To keep track of how Kennedy's policies are actually affecting the country, you should monitor the official HHS "Newsroom" releases. Specifically, look for the upcoming 2026 reports on the "Rural Health Transformation Program" and the new CDC guidelines for childhood nutrition, which are expected to drop this spring. These will be the real test of whether his "MAHA" philosophy can scale beyond his own personal gym routine.