Healthcare professionals are seeing earlier onset of Type 2 diabetes (normally an adult-onset disease), cardiovascular disease and obesity-related depression in children and adolescents. The longer a person is obese, the more significant obesity-related risk factors become.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of premature and preventable death in the United States. Tobacco free living means avoiding use of all types of tobacco products—such as cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, pipes and hookahs—and also living free from secondhand smoke exposure.

Implementing effective solutions to curtail the increasing cost burdens of managing and preventing chronic disease is a critical challenge facing health professionals, administrators and policy-makers.

Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding lowers your baby's risk of having asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea.

Dental and oral health is an essential part of overall health and well-being. Poor oral hygiene can lead to dental cavities and gum disease, and has also been linked to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.