Supporting New Year’s Resolutions for Healthier Lifestyles
At the start of the new year, millions of Americans set goals to embrace a healthier lifestyle—whether it’s to be more physically active, eat more nutritious food, focus on self-care, or quit unhealthy habits like smoking. Although a 2023 poll from Forbes Health found that most people abandon their New Year’s resolutions in less than four months, I believe that public health initiatives have the power to change this narrative.
The simple act of making a resolution itself can have positive effects on behavior change. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that those who set New Year’s resolutions are 10 times more likely to change their behavior than those who don’t.
Public health initiatives can provide the resources, education, and support people need to maintain those behavior changes. With the right programs in place—ones that promote accessibility, community involvement and/or other support, and sustainable habits—I believe we can help individuals transform short-term resolutions into long-lasting improvements in overall well-being.
One program that several states have seen success with for National Diabetes Prevention Program delivery is Health And Lifestyle Training (HALT), an easy to navigate software platform that includes evidence-based lessons on how to eat and exercise, and a lifestyle coach who offers participants live support by text, phone, or video chat during the program. HALT is a cost effective and equitable way to help communities prioritize their health. Learn more at proventionhealth.org/halt-diabetes. (SPECIAL OFFER: HALT is currently offering special pricing of $36,000 to State Health Departments through Jan. 31 for a custom, state-specific HALT platform that includes access to all programs—Online DPP Delivery, Hypertension Control, DSMES, Smoking Cessation, Health Equity, and more. Learn more and contact John Patton at information@proventionhealth.org with inquiries.)
The CDC-funded and NACDD facilitated Building Resilient Inclusive Communities (BRIC) and State Partnerships Improving Nutrition and Equity (SPINE) programs have great examples of local community partners working together to address food and nutrition security, physical activity access, and social connectedness. NACDD’s Center for Advancing Healthy Communities (CAHC) created 12 short videos showcasing the success stories of these programs, which will be shared in our next General Member Webinar on Thursday, Jan. 23. (Register Now.)
I encourage you to browse chronicdisease.org for vast resources and information on healthy lifestyle programs, including projects such as:
- Food and Nutrition Security Profiles in partnership with Feeding America and CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, the profiles highlight the collaborative opportunities and efforts within each state to help affect food and nutrition security programs, policies, practices, and infrastructure.
- Walkability Action Institute
- Building Resilient Inclusive Communities
- Worksite Wellness
- Disability Inclusion Network for Tobacco Control and Cancer Prevention
- Healthy Military Communities
- School Health
- And many others…
(Read and watch videos showcasing successes from NACDD’s Reaching People with Disabilities through Healthy Communities project, featured on the CDC website.)
We look forward to another year of supporting public health organizations as they work to make their communities healthier. In 2025, we are also thrilled to be offering our Chronic Disease Academy in-person this September in Atlanta—Chronic Disease Prevention: Innovating Together for Health! The four-day event will include peer-to-peer learning, interactive workshops, networking sessions, discussion forums, and poster sessions. (For updates on CDA, visit chronicdisease.org/cphl/learning-hub/cda. Registration and more information coming soon.)
Let’s make 2025 a turning point for better health for all!
