Enjoy a Healthy Lifestyle and Prevent Disease

Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems and they are also among the most preventable.

Physical Activity

Regular physical activity can improve the health and quality of life of people of all ages, regardless of the presence of a chronic disease or disability. For people who are inactive, even small increases in physical activity are associated with health benefits.

Among adults, physical activity can lower the risk of:

• Early death
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Type 2 diabetes
• Breast and colon cancer
• Falls
• Depression

Among children and adolescents, physical activity can:

• Improve bone health.
• Improve cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness.
• Decrease levels of body fat.
• Reduce symptoms of depression.

Learn more about Cholesterol, Breast Cancer, Heart Health, and Diabetes.

Visit the fitness page.

Eating Healthy

Eating healthy can help reduce people?s risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis, and several types of cancer, as well as help them maintain a healthy body weight. Eating healthy means consuming a variety of nutritious foods and beverages, especially vegetables, fruits, low and fat-free dairy products, and whole grains; limiting intake of saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium; keeping trans fat intake as low as possible; and balancing caloric intake with calories burned to manage body weight.

Individuals who are at a healthy weight are less likely to:

• Develop chronic disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure and dyslipidemia.
• Develop chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, and some cancers.
• Experience complications during pregnancy.

Visit the Nutrition page for healthy eating tips.