What CDC Is Doing
CDC’s Work to Make Healthy Eating Easier
We partner with national groups, states, and communities to advance the following priorities:
Early Childcare and Educational (ECE) Obesity Prevention
We partner with states to: 1) make state-wide improvements in their ECE system by incorporating obesity prevention standards and practices; and 2) support a targeted group of ECE providers to make facility-wide improvements using a learning collaborative intervention. These activities help providers support breastfeeding, healthy eating, and physical activity for children in their facilities.
We fund 15 land grant universities in states with county obesity rates greater than 40%. Residents of these communities tend to have less access to healthy foods. To address this, many of recipients work with local cooperative extensions to help increase the availability of healthy, affordable foods in their communities.
International Micronutrient Malnutrition Prevention and Control Program (IMMPaCT)
We help improve vitamin and mineral malnutrition in the United States and globally, focusing on iron, vitamin A, iodine, folate, zinc, and vitamin D.
Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH)
We fund and support local groups in developing culturally-tailored community programs to reduce chronic diseases and risk behaviors. One focus of the program is assuring good nutrition is attainable for all people.
State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN)
We fund 16 state recipients to implement evidence-based strategies at state and local levels to improve nutrition and physical activity. Exploring and implementing strategies to increase access to healthy foods is a common strategy. Many recipients also help hospitals improve maternity practices and community support for breastfeeding.
