health.gov

Health.gov is the website of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). To reach a specific office or program, use the "I'm looking for" menu at the top for preset shortcuts, or scroll to the "Offices" section for the full list of OASH sub-offices. News and funding items appear in the "News" and "In Case You Missed It" sections. The site is organized around OASH's mission: "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."

Start with the "I'm looking for" menu

The top of the homepage includes an "I'm looking for" entry point that opens a list of predetermined options. This is the fastest route when your target matches one of the preset choices — for example, current OASH job openings, available funding, information on the Assistant Secretary for Health, how to join the Commissioned Corps, or how to apply for jobs at OASH.

If your target is not in that list, skip to the "Offices" section below.

Use the "Offices" section for sub-office pages

Each OASH sub-office has its own page, reached from the "Offices" section. Use this table to pick the right one:

Select the office name to open its page, then look for that office's own programs and resources.

Find programs through featured content

Some programs are surfaced directly on the homepage rather than buried under an office. Two examples in the featured area:

• Dietary Guidelines for Americans — advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease.
• Move Your Way® — a physical activity campaign with community resources for moving more.

If you already know the program name, these featured blocks are often the quickest path.

Check News and "In Case You Missed It" for current items

The "News" section lists recent announcements, such as HHS recommendations on enhanced kratom products, the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit, and falls prevention funding. The "In Case You Missed It" section collects items you may have missed. Use these when you are looking for time-sensitive information — new funding, toolkits, or policy announcements — rather than a standing office page.

Common sticking points

• The preset list does not include your target. The "I'm looking for" options are a fixed set. If nothing matches, go to "Offices" instead of assuming the content is absent.
• You land on an office page but not the program. Office pages are entry points; the specific program may sit one level deeper within that office's own navigation.
• You need a job or funding entry. These are handled through the "I'm looking for" shortcuts (current OASH job openings, available funding, how to apply for jobs at OASH) rather than through an office page.
• You want Commissioned Corps information. Use the "How to join the Commissioned Corps" option in the "I'm looking for" list.

Quick verification

After navigating, confirm you are in the right place by checking that the page belongs to the expected office or program and that it addresses your specific need — for example, a funding page should show available funding, and an office page should name that office. If it does not, return to the "Offices" section and try the adjacent office.

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.

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.

Health.gov is the official website of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It serves as a hub for federal public health policy, programs, and resources — covering topics like dietary guidelines, physical activity, disease prevention, minority health, and research integrity. If you're looking for authoritative U.S. government health guidance, funding opportunities, or information about OASH's offices and initiatives, this is the site to use.

Who Runs Health.gov

Health.gov is operated by OASH, whose 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." The site describes its overarching goal as "healthy people, healthy community, and a healthy nation for all."

OASH sits within HHS, the federal department responsible for national health and human services programs.

What You'll Find on the Site

The site organizes its content around several recurring categories:

• Featured guidance and campaigns — such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease) and the Move Your Way® campaign (community resources for physical activity).
• News — recent HHS announcements, for example items on enhanced kratom product thresholds, a Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit, and falls prevention funding.
• Funding information — available funding opportunities are listed as a navigational option.
• Jobs and careers — current OASH job openings and how to apply, plus information on joining the Commissioned Corps.
• Advisory committees — information about committees that advise OASH.
• Leadership information — details on the Assistant Secretary for Health.

The Offices Under OASH

A major part of Health.gov is directing visitors to the specialized offices that carry out OASH's work. Each has its own focus area:

When to Use Health.gov

Health.gov is most useful when you need:

• Official federal health guidance — such as dietary or physical activity recommendations you can cite or apply.
• Information about OASH's structure and mission — useful for researchers, public health professionals, or anyone trying to understand how federal health policy is organized.
• Funding or job opportunities within OASH and its offices.
• A starting point to reach a specific office (ODPHP, OMH, OPA, etc.) for more detailed resources.

Because the site aggregates content from multiple offices, it works best as a directory and overview rather than a single-topic resource. For deep dives into a specific area — minority health, research integrity, or family planning, for instance — follow the links to the relevant office.

Yes. Health.gov is the official website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), operated by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). Its content is published by federal offices and is based on science and policy, which makes it a reliable reference for general health guidance. It is not, however, a substitute for advice from your own clinician.

What Health.gov Is

The site is run by OASH, whose 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." Because it sits on a .gov domain and is published by a federal office, the material carries official weight rather than being a commercial or advocacy source.

What You Can Find There

Health.gov hosts programs and guidance from several OASH offices, including:

Two prominent resources are the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which advises on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs and prevent disease, and the Move Your Way® campaign, which points to community resources for physical activity.

How to Use It for Personal Health Decisions

Health.gov is best treated as a starting point for understanding official guidance, not as a diagnosis tool.

• Use it to learn the federal position on topics like diet, exercise, and disease prevention.
• Cross-check with other HHS agencies when a question falls outside OASH's scope — for example, specific conditions or treatments may be covered more directly by other HHS bodies.
• Bring what you find to your clinician rather than acting on it alone. The site offers population-level guidance, while your own care depends on your history and circumstances.

What It Does Not Do

Health.gov does not provide personalized medical advice, and nothing on the site is a substitute for consulting a qualified professional about your own health. Treat it as an authoritative reference for general information and official recommendations — useful for context and for verifying what federal health policy actually says.