HHS Launches Health Center Healthy Lifestyle Commitment Focused on Nutrition and Prevention
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on October 14 launched the Health Center Healthy Lifestyle Commitment, a voluntary initiative encouraging health centers nationwide to put nutrition, prevention and healthy living at the center of patient care. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced the initiative during a visit to the Piedmont Access to Health Services (PATHS) health center in Chatham, Virginia, joined by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Tom Engels, according to the announcement on HHS.gov.
Under the commitment, HRSA-supported health centers are encouraged to advance evidence-based practices in six areas: prioritizing prevention and healthy lifestyles, including healthy eating, physical activity, adequate sleep and limited screen time; promoting healthy eating under the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, with an emphasis on whole, nutrient-dense foods and limits on highly processed foods and added sugars; giving patients and families practical information on nutrition and preventive care; connecting patients to community activities such as community gardens, fresh produce programs, nutrition education and physical activity opportunities; equipping health center staff with tools and training on nutrition and healthy living; and building a culture of health. HHS is also encouraging participating centers to display the new food pyramid as a resource for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030, and HRSA has posted nutrition education materials and guidance on a new Health Centers and Nutrition webpage.
Speaking in Chatham, Kennedy said the department is equipping health centers to make nutrition, physical activity, healthy sleep and prevention part of everyday care, so doctors and families can act earlier. Engels said health centers are trusted partners in their communities, caring for millions of Americans every year, and are uniquely positioned to help patients prevent chronic disease. HHS said participation is voluntary, does not establish new federal requirements or standards of care, and will not affect a health center's eligibility for HRSA funding. The department said the commitment builds on the Trump Administration's Make America Healthy Again Strategy and the role of community-based primary care in addressing chronic disease.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 位于华盛顿特区的美国卫生与公众服务部总部胡伯特·汉弗莱大楼。The Hubert H. Humphrey Building, headquarters of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. Photo: Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, public domain.
