
Healthy living is a combination of many things. Regular exercise, good nutrition, and a positive mental attitude all contribute to a lifetime of optimum health. Many organizations and campaigns promote healthy living in order to reduce obesity rates and health problems among children and adults. Their help and expertise have inspired thousands of people to take better care of themselves.
Below you’ll find a list of organizations and campaigns that encourage healthy lifestyles and promote prevention of chronic and preventable health conditions. Through social media, fundraising, community engagement, and other marketing strategies, these programs help all age groups live stronger and healthier lives. Whether you’re a student in a health promotion program, a health promotion professional, or someone interested in learning more about wellness and nutrition, you’ve come to the right spot.
Organizations
- American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation: The AAPAR is a go-to resource for teachers or managers of physical activity or recreation programs in a community or school. Comprised of leaders and educators in the field, AAPAR helps members by:
- Providing continuing education and networking opportunities.
- Advocating for healthy-living legislation.
- Offering get-fit tips to the public.
For access to useful AAPAR resources, click here.
- National Association of Health and Fitness: The NAHF was founded in 1979 by staff of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. The organization values active-aging programs, worksite health promotion programs, and strives to improve the quality of life for U.S. citizens by:
- Supporting fitness and health community coalitions.
- Promoting physical fitness and healthy lifestyles
- Advocating environmental and policy support for active living.
For access to useful NAHF resources, click here.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The CDC is a leader in nationwide efforts to promote health and prevent disease, injury, and disability by:
- Implementing prevention strategies and fostering safe environments.
- Detecting and investigating health problems.
- Providing leadership and training.
For access to useful CDC resources, click here.
- Hope Heart Institute: This organization is dedicated to cardiovascular research and education. Through programming and ongoing education efforts, the Hope Heart Institute is dedicated to:
- Collaborating with other organizations to share best practices and resources.
- Preventing and treating heart and blood vessel disease.
- Improving the emotional and physical qualify of life for those at risk of cardiovascular disease.
For access to useful Hope Heart resources, click here.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: As the principle government agency for protecting the health of Americans, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is dedicated to:
- Providing essential human services to all Americans, especially those in need.
- Educating Americans about diet, nutrition, and eating right.
- Offering grants, benefit programs for individuals and families, loans, and contracting opportunities.
For access to useful HHS resources, click here.
- Health Promotion Advocates: This organization promotes healthy lifestyles with the hope of reducing health risks and preventing chronic disease by:
- Helping to secure funding for health promotion programs.
- Developing and supporting legislation that contributes to their mission.
- Monitoring health promotion programs to ensure they continue to meet established standards.
For access to useful Health Promotion resources, click here.
- United States Army Public Health Command: The PHC works hard to promote healthy living and disease prevention for soldiers, military retirees, and their families, in addition to:
- Monitoring, mitigating, and archiving environmental health risk.
- Identifying diseases, epidemics, and spikes in medical conditions.
- Building and sustaining the good health of soldiers and retirees
For access to useful PHC resources, click here.
- American Medical Association: The AMA is a leader in the health field and in promoting professionalism in medicine. Their plan, according to their Website, includes three areas of focus:
- Improving health outcomes.
- Accelerating change in medical education.
- Enhancing physician satisfaction and practice sustainability by shaping delivery and payment models.
For access to useful AMA resources, click here.
- Office of Disease Promotion and Prevention: The ODPHP is a government agency that strives to protect the health of all Americans and provide essential services to those in need. Its initiatives include:
- Improving health communication and utilizing health technologies.
- Providing easy-to-understand information, tips, and tools for staying healthy.
- Connecting health professionals and consumers with organizations that provide a variety of services and support.
For access to useful ODPHP resources, click here.
- The National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council: This council, comprised of 18 members, provides leadership and coordination to ensure the government is focused on health promotion. The Council is also responsible for:
- Making recommendations to the President and the Congress concerning the nation’s health issues.
- Developing a National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy.
- Incorporating input from the public and relevant stakeholders regarding programs and other health-related services.
For access to useful National Prevention Council resources, click here.
Campaigns
- Let’s Move: Started by Michele Obama, Let’s Move is a comprehensive initiative dedicated to solving our country’s obesity problem by:
- Improving access to healthy and affordable foods.
- Empowering parents and caregivers.
- Providing healthy food in schools.
For access to useful Let’s Move resources, click here.
- The Truth: Funded by The American Legacy Foundation, The Truth strives to inform people about the risks of tobacco use as well as:
- Exposing the facts about the tobacco industry.
- Providing research about lung cancer and secondhand smoke-related diseases.
- Educating the population about the dangers of smoking.
For access to useful Truth resources, click here.
- LIVESTRONG: The LIVESTRONG Foundation is dedicated to promoting cancer awareness as well as encouraging people to take action – personally and socially, to enhance their quality of life. LIVESTRONG is about:
- Reducing the risk of developing cancer.
- Improving the quality of life for all cancer survivors.
- Supporting key policy initiatives at the global, federal and state levels.
For access to useful LIVESTRONG resources, click here.
- Participating in community events.
- Singing up for contents and promotions.
- Volunteering at Play 60 school events and field trips.
For access to useful NFL Rush 60 resources, click here.
- Reducing the risk of infection among the hardest-hit populations.
- Combatting complacency about HIV and AIDS in the U.S.
- Using mass media to deliver important HIV prevention messages.
For access to useful AAA resources, click here.
- Empowering women to take charge of their heart health.
- Providing the tools necessary to lead heart healthy lives.
- Dispelling myths about heart disease.
For access to useful Go Red resources, click here.
- Bringing leaders together from across industry to make policy changes.
- Educating the public about healthy eating and staying active.
- Striving to reverse our nation’s costliest and most prevalent diseases.
For access to useful CEO resources, click here.
- Teaching kids about healthy food choices and sustainable agriculture.
- Converting school lunches to healthier menus.
- Removing foods and junk food ads out of our schools.
For access to useful OCA resources, click here.
- Engaging the public through public health campaigns.
- Affecting the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.
- Promoting research analysis through media outreach, congressional briefings, public education campaigns, conferences and special events.
For access to useful SWHR resources, click here.
- Encouraging people to check their emergency stockpiles
- Offering free resources for the public and health workers, including fact sheets, a blog, Q&As and a calendar of events.
- Providing helpful links to Federal resources about the pandemic flu, infectious disease, and general preparedness
For access to useful Get Ready resources, click here.