What is Healthy People?
Healthy People 2010 is a set of health objectives for the Nation to achieve over the first decade of the new century. It can be used by many different people, States, communities, professional organizations, and others to help them develop programs to improve health.

Healthy People 2010 builds on initiatives pursued over the past two decades. The 1979 Surgeon General's Report, Healthy People, and Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives both established national health objectives and served as the basis for the development of State and community plans. Like its predecessors, Healthy People 2010 was developed through a broad consultation process, built on the best scientific knowledge and designed to measure programs over time.

What are Its Goals?
Healthy People 2010 is designed to achieve two overarching goals: 

Goal 1: Increase Quality and Years of Healthy Life

The first goal of Healthy People 2010 is to help individuals of all ages increase life expectancy and improve their quality of life.


Goal 2: Eliminate Health Disparities

The second goal of Healthy People 2010 is to eliminate health disparities among different segments of the population.

Each of the 28 focus area chapters also contains a concise goal statement. This statement frames the overall purpose of the focus area.

Examples of focus area goals are:

3. Cancer:
Reduce the number of new cancer cases as well as the illness, disability, and death caused by cancer.

6. Disability and Secondary Conditions:
Promote the health of people with disabilities, prevent secondary conditions, and eliminate disparities between people with and without disabilities in the U.S. population.

10. Food Safety:
Reduce foodborne illnesses.