Finding Common Ground in Health Promotion in an Era of Growing Distrust and Polarization.

Abstract

In 2025 the changes in national leadership cast a surprising light and ineffable shadows on America's race, gender and class dynamics. Unexpectedly, women and people of color did not vote as a monolithic force in favor of one side or another of culture wars. In the health promotion discipline alarms are being sounded that America's new political leadership will use their newfound popularity among a wider constituency to question the integrity of public health and challenge the value of science writ large. This editorial argues that neither retreating from nor resisting expected changes to public health policies will be as effective as walking into the shadows and looking carefully for common ground. The three opportunities with the best chances for seeking compromise in polarized communities relate to personalized lifestyle medicine, repackaging diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and policy advocacy for health literacy in the digital age.