摘要:The recommendations of the National Expert Panel on Community Health Promotion (expert panel) (1,2), convened in March 2006 in Atlanta, could not have come at a more critical time for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC’s) National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP). During the past several decades, U.S. society has undergone profound changes, and these changes affect how NCCDPHP must operate: rapid advances in technology make Americans increasingly sedentary; the ever-increasing pace of life creates stress; and the beginning of a demographic shift toward an older population increases demands on limited resources. In addition, we must continue to address persistent and troubling disparities in health, health care, and related social factors such as poverty, violence, low educational attainment, and family stress. Each of these factors could escalate a growing national crisis in chronic disease with far-reaching effects not only on individuals and families but also on the U.S. economy. In light of these challenges, CDC welcomes the recommendations of the expert panel (1). They will help CDC to design a more efficient and strategic approach to promoting health and preventing chronic disease.