HHS Introduces Health Center Initiative Promoting Nutrition, Prevention, and Healthy Living

By
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA)
October 14, 2026

United States Department Of Health And Human Services

At a Glance

Category	Detail
Condition	Voluntary initiative to integrate nutrition, prevention, and healthy living into routine health-center care
Key Mechanisms	Encourages nutrition, physical activity, healthy sleep, reduced screen time, preventive care, and other healthy behaviors in routine care
Target Population	Patients and families served by participating health centers; health centers receiving HRSA support are encouraged to participate
Care Setting	Community-based health centers and primary care

Key Highlights

HHS introduced the voluntary Health Center Healthy Lifestyle Commitment on October 14, 2026, in Chatham, Virginia.
The initiative encourages health centers to integrate nutrition, prevention, and healthy living into routine patient care.
Encouraged activities include nutrition education, physical activity, healthy sleep, reduced screen time, and access to local wellness opportunities.
HHS encourages participating health centers to use and display the food pyramid to help explain the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030.
Participation creates no additional federal requirements or standards of care and does not affect HRSA funding eligibility or receipt.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

Management

Encourage nutritious, whole, nutrient-dense food choices and reduced intake of highly processed foods and added sugars.
Provide practical guidance on nutrition, preventive care, and healthy behaviors, including the newly issued Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Facilitate access to local opportunities for exercise, nutrition instruction, gardening, and fresh produce.
Integrate nutrition and healthy living into routine care, supported by staff training, practical tools, and relevant resources.

Monitoring & Follow-up

Risks

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients and families served by participating health centers; health centers receiving HRSA support may join voluntarily.

The initiative encourages healthy eating, physical activity, healthy sleep, reduced screen time, preventive care, and patient participation. It does not establish additional standards of care or provide prescribing guidance.

Clinical Best Practices

The commitment encourages practical nutrition education and tools for discussions about healthy eating and disease prevention.
The commitment encourages access to community-based opportunities for exercise, nutrition instruction, gardening, and fresh produce.
The commitment encourages staff training and relevant resources to support prevention capacity.
The commitment encourages patient participation and a care environment that supports healthy choices.