by What we do
Poor nutrition and insufficient physical activity are significant risk factors for obesity and other chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. They can contribute to stroke, certain cancers and depression. In the United States:
DNPAO focuses on supporting breastfeeding, promoting healthy youth, improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, preventing and reducing obesity, and achieving health equity by reducing disparities. DNPAO experts contribute to scientific evidence that guides public health practices and provide timely, relevant data to monitor public health outcomes and progress.
Priorities
Make breastfeeding easier to start and continue
Breastfeeding is the best first source of nutrition for most babies, and can reduce the risk of a number of health conditions for both babies and mothers. Although more than 80% of mothers start breastfeeding, about 60% stop earlier than they intended.
Low breastfeeding rates contribute more than $3 billion annually to medical costs for women and children in the United States.
DNPAO promotes infant and toddler feeding practices by:
- Empowered mothers who want to breastfeed get the support they need in hospital and when they return home. DNPAO helps hospitals improve maternity care practices that support breastfeeding.
- Measuring progress in hospital support for breastfeeding through the national Maternal Practices in Feeding and Infant Care (mPINC) survey.
- Improving continuity of care across communities with low breastfeeding rates. DNPAO fosters consistent, collaborative and seamless delivery of quality services from the prenatal period until families are no longer breastfeeding.
- Share resources to provide information to parents and carers about formula feeding infants and introducing healthy foods and drinks to support good nutrition.
Promoting a healthy child
Good nutrition and physical activity are essential for healthy growth and development. In contrast, poor nutrition and low levels of physical activity contribute to childhood obesity. Many settings influence a child’s diet and physical activity, including their home, childcare centers, schools, communities and clinics.
DNPAO’s investments help improve nutrition and physical activity for children by:
- Promote best practices in nutrition, breastfeeding, screen time, and physical activity in early care and education (ECE) settings by helping states improve policies and programs to meet obesity prevention standards in ECEs.
- Helping communities create safe places where children can walk and play.
- Work with health care and community partners to increase availability and access to healthy weight programs for families.
Make healthy food choices easier everywhere
People with healthy eating patterns live longer and lead healthier lives. However, many groups have limited access to affordable, healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables. These groups include people living in rural areas, tribal communities, and neighborhoods where the majority of residents have lower incomes. People with disabilities may also be affected. In addition, people in racial and ethnic groups may not have access to culturally preferred healthy foods.
DNPAO’s expertise and funding helps states, communities and national partners increase healthy food and beverage choices by:
Make physical activity safe and accessible for all
Physical activity can help protect health and prevent or improve many health conditions, including many of the leading causes of death in the United States. Other potential benefits include better school performance, improved mental health, healthier aging, and improved military readiness. Inadequate physical activity costs the nation $117 billion a year in related health care.
Unfortunately, many Americans live in communities that lack safe, convenient places to be physically active. In response, the DNPAO launched Active People, a Healthy NationSM to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. Through this initiative, DNPAO:
- Partners with state and local governments to promote equitable improvements in community design that make physical activity and active transportation safer and more convenient for all.
- It educates the public about the health benefits of physical activity and tracks the amount of physical activity that young people and adults are getting.
Invest in states and communities
The Physical Activity and Nutrition Program (SPAN) funds 17 states to use interventions that support good nutrition, safe and accessible physical activity, healthy ECE environments, and breastfeeding. SPAN recipients work to reduce or eliminate health disparities associated with poor nutrition, physical inactivity and obesity.
The High Obesity Program (HOP) funds 16 universities to work with community extension services to increase access to nutritious foods, safe and accessible physical activity, healthy family weight programs, and healthy ECE environments in counties where more than 40% of the adult population. obesity
Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Public Health (REACH) is at the forefront of CDC’s efforts to achieve health for all across the United States, with a special focus on populations that experience health disparities.. REACH funds 50 state and local organizations to reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic groups. Recipients work in communities with high risk or rates of chronic disease, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Recipients use culturally adapted interventions to access:
- Nutritious foods
- Physical activity that is safe and accessible
- Breastfeeding knowledge, information and support
- Healthy ECE environments
- healthy weight family programs
- Smoke free environments
- Routine vaccinations for adults
