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EnglishWhat Health Topics and Resources Can I Find on Health.gov?
Updated
Health.gov is the public-facing site of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). It is a good starting point if you want federal guidance on nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention, and population health, or if you need to reach a specific OASH office. It is not a personal medical advice service, and the site does not present itself as a diagnostic or treatment tool.
What the site is organized around
The homepage groups content in a few practical ways:
- "I'm looking for" — a shortcut list of common destinations, such as current OASH job openings, available funding, information on the Assistant Secretary for Health, how to join the Commissioned Corps, and how to apply for jobs at OASH.
- Featured resources — highlighted programs and guidance, including the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Move Your Way® physical activity campaign.
- Offices — a directory of the component offices under OASH, each with its own focus and site.
- News — announcements and program launches.
The stated mission is "to improve the health and well-being of Americans by leading on policy, practices, and programs through the application of science, innovation, education and a commitment to all."
Nutrition and dietary guidance
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the flagship nutrition resource featured on the site. According to the page, it "provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease."
Use this if you want population-level dietary recommendations rather than an individualized meal plan. The guidelines are written as advice for the general public and for professionals who design nutrition programs.
Physical activity and community resources
Move Your Way® is the physical activity campaign highlighted on the homepage. The site describes it this way: "Being physically active is one of the most important actions that people of ages can take to improve their health."
The page points to the campaign as a way to "find community resources to move more." That makes it useful if you are looking for local or programmatic ways to increase activity, not just a list of exercise recommendations.
Disease prevention and health promotion programs
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) is listed as leading "prevention, nutrition and physical activity programs like Healthy People and the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition."
If your interest is in national health objectives, prevention strategy, or physical fitness initiatives, ODPHP is the office to start with.
Resources by office
The site lists OASH component offices with a short description of each. This is the fastest way to find the right resource when your question is about a specific topic.
| Office | What it covers (per the site) |
|---|---|
| Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) | Prevention, nutrition, and physical activity programs such as Healthy People and the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition |
| Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) | Protecting volunteers in research conducted or supported by HHS |
| Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) | Reducing the burden of infectious diseases and encouraging collaboration among federal agencies and stakeholders |
| Office of Minority Health (OMH) | Health status and quality of life for minority populations in the United States |
| Office of Population Affairs (OPA) | Family planning, population affairs, and adolescent health |
| Office of Research Integrity (ORI) | Integrity in Public Health Service research programs and responses to allegations of research misconduct |
| Office of the Surgeon General (OSG) | Providing Americans with the best available scientific information on health |
Each entry links to that office's own site, so the depth of topic coverage varies by office.
News and program announcements
The news section carries recent HHS and OASH announcements. Examples shown on the page include:
- HHS recommending science-based thresholds to target dangerous enhanced kratom products
- A Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit program to support mothers and babies
- Up to $27.8 million announced for falls prevention
Check this section if you want current federal program launches, funding announcements, or policy updates rather than standing guidance.
How to decide whether to use it
- Use Health.gov when you want federal guidance, national program information, or a route to a specific OASH office.
- Look elsewhere when you need personalized medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment decisions — the site is an agency information hub, not a clinical service.
- Start with the office list if your topic is narrow (for example, research protections or minority health); start with the featured resources if your topic is nutrition or physical activity.
The site does not state pricing or login requirements for these resources in the material available, so treat access conditions as something to confirm on each linked page rather than assuming they are open or free.