Food and Nutrition

Discover blogs on nutrition, diet, and healthy eating from ODPHP. Learn how policy, science, and education support better food choices.

Hypertension: a Pandemic Perspective

Health and Well-Being Matter. ODPHP Director RDML Paul Reed, MD.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, puts tens of millions of people at risk for largely preventable conditions — such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure — and premature death. Hypertension is one of the leading modifiable risk factors causing chronic disease and premature mortality in the United States. Yet a large percentage of Americans are unaware that they have hypertension, and only about 1 in 4 adults in the United States have it under control. Preventing and controlling hypertension for Americans will save lives, reduce inordinate costs, and improve health, well-being, and resilience. The first step toward these outcomes is acknowledging that hypertension, sometimes called the “silent killer” for often going undetected before leading to serious harm, is also a “silent pandemic” — and though it’s not a contagious threat in the traditional sense, hypertension needs to be addressed with even greater attention and urgency. The statistics clearly define the problem.

ICYMI: HHS Hosts First-Ever “Food Is Medicine” Summit in Washington, D.C.

In recognition of the critical connection between nutrition and the ability for individuals to thrive in their communities, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services held the first-ever Food Is Medicine Summit on January 31. The event demonstrates federal momentum and commitment to advance the Food Is Medicine priority included in the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition & Health.

There’s Still Time to Register for Tomorrow’s Meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

DietaryGuidelines.gov

There’s still time to register to view the livestream of tomorrow’s meeting of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The meeting will be livestreamed on January 19, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. Convened jointly by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA), during this meeting the Committee will hear updates from each subcommittee and discuss progress made since the third public meeting...

Reminder: Register for the Next Meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

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The next meeting of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee will be held on January 19, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. Convened jointly by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA), the Committee will hear updates from each subcommittee and discuss progress made since the third public meeting...