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Nutrition and Physical Activity
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Physical Activity
Healthy Eating
Overweight and Obesity
Pediatric Growth
Iron Status
   

Recommendations

CDC's Nutrition and Physical Activity Program develops recommendations in several topic areas. The program also partners with other government agencies to provide comprehensive information for partners, public health educators, and the public.  In this section, you will find information on, physical activity, healthy eating, overweight and obesity, pediatric growth, and iron status.

Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at this link.

Physical Activity

General Recommendations
Participating in moderate-intensity physical activity is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle for people of all ages and abilities.

Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General
The Surgeon General's first report that specifically addresses physical activity and health.

Promoting Better Health for Young People Through Physical Activity and Sports
A Report to the President From the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Education
This report outlines ten strategies to promote health through lifelong participation in enjoyable and safe physical activity and sports. It includes a bibliography and appendices of helpful materials.
(This resource is hosted by CDC's Adolescent and School Health Program.)

The Guide to Community Preventive Services
Evidence-based recommendations on effective population-level interventions to promote physical activity.


Healthy Eating

Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Ten guidelines that help Americans build healthful eating patterns and take actions for good health.
(This resource is hosted by the USDA.)

Food Guide Pyramid
Illustrating research-based food guidance developed by USDA and supported by Health and Human Services.
(This resource is hosted by the USDA.)

5-A-Day for Better Health
The 5-A-Day for Better Health Program is a national effort to achieve the Healthy People 2010 objective for increasing the per capita consumption to five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily.


Overweight and Obesity

The Surgeon General’s Call To Action Report
The U.S. Surgeon General calls upon the nation to work together in finding solutions to the problem of obesity and overweight. To read the report, visit the Surgeon General's Web site.

Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults
The guidelines present an approach for assessing overweight and obesity and establishes principles of safe and effective weight loss.
(This resource is hosted by the National Institutes of Health.)

Voluntary Guidelines for Providers of Weight Loss Products or Services
These guidelines developed by the partnership for Healthy Weight Management provide strategies for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
(This resource is hosted by consumer.gov.)

Body Mass Index for Adults
The Body Mass Index (BMI), based on on an individual's height and weight, is a helpful indicator of obesity and underweight status in adults.


Pediatric Growth

Growth Charts
Created with improved data and statistical procedures, the new CDC Growth Charts replace the 1977 NCHS Growth Charts and provide a standard for practitioners to evaluate the size and growth of children from birth to age 20 years.
(This resource is hosted by CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.)

Body Mass Index-for-Age
(Children and Adolescents)
The CDC BMI-for-age charts provide a guideline based on weight and height to determine underweight and overweight status in children aged 2 to 20 years.


Iron Status

CDC Recommendations to Prevent and Control Iron Deficiency in the United States* (PDF - 333K)
This MMWR article provides data and recommendations intended for primary health care providers to help prevent this most common nutritional deficiency.

Forging Effective Strategies to Combat Iron Deficiency, Press Release
This document summarizes the recommendations of an international conference on iron deficiency, jointly sponsored by the International Life Sciences Institute Center for Health Promotion, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Micronutrient Initiative, and Emory University.


*This document is available in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need Acrobat Reader (a free application) to view and print this document.

 



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This page last updated August 18, 2004

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity