Health departments in the United States

[7] Local health departments help create and maintain conditions in communities that support healthier choices in areas such as diet, exercise, and tobacco.

They lead efforts that prevent and reduce the effects of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer.

Local health departments also conduct programs that are shown to effectively make communities healthier.

[13] Not until 1939 was another federal agency established to manage public health on a national level.

It went through several iterations a federal agency called the Federal Security Agency that had health functions such as the United States Public Health Service (PHS), and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

[citation needed] HHS notes the laws and regulations that it carries out on its website.