December 2023

There is abundant evidence that good nutrition is imperative to overall physical health, supports disease prevention, and offers cognitive benefits too. But when it comes to our overall mental and emotional health or our sense of well-being, what specific outcomes can we expect from good nutrition? And what negative effects can we expect from inadequate nutrition? These questions are just a few of many being asked by the Food and Mood Project — an initiative led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).

Last month I was honored to deliver the keynote address to the American Public Health Association 2023 Annual Meeting held in Atlanta, Georgia. I spoke about an important initiative that we are continuing to develop and the need to take the social determinants of health “to the next level.” To reach the broadest possible audience, I am sharing my remarks from that meeting.

We’re excited to announce that MyHealthfinder now features 2 resources on anxiety disorder in adults. The new anxiety resources align with a final recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) showing that adults age 64 years and younger can benefit from screening to help identify anxiety disorders — so they can get the treatment they need.