National Health Observances

National Health Observances (NHOs) are special days, weeks, or months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics.

Each month, we feature select NHOs that align with our priorities for improving health across the nation. See our criteria for highlighting NHOs.

Get Moving During National Physical Fitness and Sports Month: Why Physical Activity Matters for Your Health and Happiness

May isn’t just another spring month — it’s National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, a nationwide observance that highlights the powerful benefits of physical activity and encourages Americans of all ages and abilities to build movement into their daily lives. It’s the perfect time to recommit to healthier habits and get moving.

Helping Older Adults Take Charge of Their Social Well-Being

As the days shorten, cooler weather takes hold, and the urge to retreat indoors to the comfort of home grows, it is the perfect time to remind ourselves of the importance of social connection for older adults, renew support for more engagement in our communities, and make healthy aging a reality for all who live there.

Support Older Americans Month with our Resources!

May is Older Americans Month — a great time to highlight ways to support our nation’s growing older adult population. ODPHP offers a variety of resources to support your healthy aging work. Start by exploring Healthy People 2030’s healthy aging resources. Check out Healthy People 2030 and Older Adults for an overview of resources specific to older adults: View Healthy People 2030 objectives, use the objective search feature to find data for older adults, browse the Healthy Aging Custom List, learn about the impact of everyday factors like income and access to health care, and find evidence-based resources to support healthy aging work...

This National Nutrition Month®, Let’s Promote Healthy Eating for Older Adults

This blog post is part of our quarterly series highlighting important healthy aging topics, key resources, and organizations working for and with older adults.March is National Nutrition Month® — and as we age, healthy eating habits are as important as ever. Eating nutritious foods can help older adults manage chronic health conditions and lower their risk of serious health problems like heart attack and stroke...