Leveraging Laws and Policies to Help Achieve Healthy People 2020 Objectives

Law and policy are among the most effective tools to improve health and well-being, yet many people may not be aware of the precise impact these interventions and approaches can have on population health. To address this, the Healthy People 2020 Law and Health Policy project is developing resources that will provide practical information to a broad audience about the impact that laws and policies can have on health outcomes.

New Report on Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Intake Through Policy Strategies

A new report, The Role of Law and Policy in Achieving the Healthy People 2020 Nutrition and Weight Status Goals of Increased Fruit and Vegetable Intake in the United States, is the first in a series of evidence-based reports, webinars, and success stories (called “Bright Spots”) intended to help community and tribal leaders, government officials, public health professionals, health care providers, lawyers, and social service providers implement policy changes to improve community health and well-being.

Healthy food intake remains a problem in our country. Only 1 in 10 adults eat the recommended amount of fruits or vegetables each day. Beyond individual choice, many factors influence people’s eating patterns — including cost and the ability to access healthy foods.

Read the report summary to learn about the challenges to and opportunities for improving intake of fruits and vegetables across the Nation.

From Policy to Plate: Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Intake Through Accessibility, Affordability, and Demand

Join us for the first Law and Health Policy webinar on Thursday, September 27 at 1:00 p.m. ET. You’ll hear from the report authors about key findings around using law and policy interventions to increase fruit and vegetable intake and learn how a large city used regulation to improve availability of staple foods, including fruits and vegetables, in retail settings. Register now.

About the Project

The Law and Health Policy project is a collaborative effort between the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CDC Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Other partners and consulting organizations who work in topic-specific areas have also contributed to the project.