Land-grant universities educate individuals and communities about health, nutrition and chronic disease prevention

Many American individuals and communities struggle with building or maintaining healthy lifestyles that contribute to better health outcomes. A lack of awareness of health information and resource constraints limit people’s abilities to eat healthy foods or get enough physical activity. Extension leaders from 1890 land-grant universities are bringing information to communities struggling with high rates of obesity and chronic diseases, connecting people of all ages with information to help them make healthy food choices, become more physically active and build other lifestyle habits like stress management.

Here are a few examples of that work:

• Extension leaders in Alabama are building health literacy programs for youth ages 12–17 that teach healthier lifestyle foundations to reduce chronic disease risk factors, like making healthy food choices, staying physically active and strategies to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
  Alabama Cooperative Extension System – Alabama A&M University. Supported by 1890 Extension capacity funds. See full statement.

• In Arkansas, Extension professionals are building community engagement around nutrition and health with workshops to explore approaches to improving youth nutrition, educational sessions about hydration, food regulations, cultural diet differences and the importance of nutrition for youth development and athletic performance.
  University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service – University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Supported by 1890 Extension capacity funds. See full statement.  

• In North Carolina, where 30% of children ages 6–17 are obese or overweight with greater risks of chronic disease outcomes, Extension leaders developed a collaborative program to travel to different communities, bringing exhibits and activities that teach children in kindergarten through fifth grade about nutrition, physical activity and healthy daily routines like teeth brushing.
  North Carolina A&T Cooperative Extension Program. Supported by 1890 Extension capacity funds. See full statement.

• Tennessee Extension professionals partnered with different organizations to implement health programs to address cardiovascular and mental health awareness, with options like blood pressure checks and education about eating healthily and exercising.
  Tennessee State University Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Supported by 1890 Extension capacity funds. See full statement.

• West Virginia faces disproportionately high rates of chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition, low physical activity and limited health education. Extension educators meet this need by partnering with community organizations to provide educational opportunities to West Virginians of all ages, like a healthy cooking workshop for seniors, educational sessions to help participants increase fruit and vegetable consumption, health and nutrition lessons for elementary students and special topic workshops for adults for suicide awareness and prevention, positive parenting and family health.
  West Virginia State University Cooperative Extension Program. Supported by 1890 Extension capacity funds. See full statement.

• Extension leaders in Ohio expanded their evidence-based diabetes self-management program, training and certifying eight new educators who offered nine workshops in 2025 in communities across Ohio to deliver interactive, culturally relevant learning experiences about nutrition, meal planning, physical activity, stress management, medical provider communication and diabetes complication prevention.
  Central State University – Extension. Supported by 1890 Extension capacity funds. See full statement. 

• Cooperative Extension educators are addressing health disparities in Texas communities with healthy lifestyle programs delivered in partnership with community organizations. These programs combine heritage cooking with nutrition, educate youths how to choose healthy food and fitness activities, provide nutrition and physical activity education for seniors to maintain health and teach independence and heat-related illness prevention.
  Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program. Supported by 1890 Extension capacity funds. See full statement. 

Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service – University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.