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 Program
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 land grant universities in 15 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 the grantees 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 nutrition in the United States and globally, focusing on iron, Vitamin A, iodine, folate, and zinc.
Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Program
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.
We fund and support state health departments in using evidence-based approaches to help people achieve good health. Exploring and implementing strategies to increase access to healthy foods is one strategy grantees work on. Many also work to help hospitals improve maternity practices and community support for breastfeeding.
Learn more about CDC’s work to support and promote breastfeeding.
