Reducing Chronic Disease Through Physical Activity and Nutrition

Five Action Steps

Poor nutrition and inadequate physical activity are significant risk factors for obesity and other chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, and depression.

Five actions steps states and communities can take to reduce these risks for people they serve are listed below. Ways to get started and links to resources are also provided.

Five action steps to prevent health risks
Make physical activity safe and accessible for all

1. Make physical activity safe and accessible for all.

Make healthy food choices easier everywhere

2. Make healthy food choices easier everywhere.

  • Guide state and community facilities where food is offered and sold to use nutrition standards for food procurement. This will help ensure healthier food options are available.
Make breastfeeding easier to start and sustain

3. Make breastfeeding easier to start and sustain.

  • Help hospitals use evidence-based maternity care practices to support new mothers to start breastfeeding.
Make access to places for exercise easier

4. Strengthen obesity prevention standards for early care and education (ECE) settings.

Spread and scale pediatric weight management programs

5. Spread and scale family healthy weight programs.

Connect with Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity