DPH Hosts Fourth Annual Advancing Healthy Lifestyles Conference

DOVER, DEL. (June 4, 2026) - The Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Prevention Program (PANO) of the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) brought together hundreds of leaders, advocates, and practitioners for its fourth annual Advancing Healthy Lifestyles Conference, on June 4, at the Bally's Dover Casino Resort. It was a full day focused on a shared goal - ensuring all Delawareans have the tools and resources to live healthier lives.

The conference, titled "Taking Action for Healthier Communities," centered on both urgency and possibility. The agenda moved from big-picture conversations to practical strategies, blending educational presentations with real-world examples, strategic planning, and time to connect across sectors. About 350 attendees took part. They included public health leaders, nonprofit groups, teachers, health care workers, policy experts, and researchers. They work on issues related to health gaps, nutrition, chronic disease, and obesity prevention. The event brought together many different viewpoints to support teamwork and long-term change.

Speakers reinforced the messaging throughout the day, including keynote speaker Sam Kass, a partner at Acre Venture Partners and former White House senior policy advisor for nutrition. His remarks connected local action with national and global shifts in how communities think about food systems, access, and long-term health.

The day opened with remarks from DPH leadership, setting a tone focused on action and shared responsibility, and focusing on the state's commitment to advancing health equity and improving outcomes across communities.

From there, the conference moved into breakout sessions that emphasized practical application. Attendees worked through approaches to cross-sector collaboration, explored how technology can expand access to care, and examined community-driven strategies to prevent childhood obesity and promote lifelong healthy habits.

Three sessions highlighted that work:

• From Ideas to Impact focused on how organizations can collaborate more effectively to turn ideas into measurable results.
• Connected Communities explored how technology can reduce barriers and improve access to care and health resources.
• Healthy Habits for Life examined ways to partner with families and schools to support better nutrition, increased physical activity, and long-term wellness.

Throughout the day, TED Talk-style presentations added another layer, bringing in national, regional, and local voices to share insights, challenges, and successes. The format kept conversations moving while reinforcing a core theme that solutions already exist across communities and can be scaled through stronger connections.

The day closed with a networking reception, extending the conversations that began in sessions and signaling what comes next - continued collaboration, shared learning, and a collective push toward healthier communities across Delaware.

The 2026 Advancing Healthy Lifestyles Conference was sponsored by DPH, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Bayhealth, YMCA of Delaware, Delaware Quitline, Medical Society of Delaware, and Sussex County Health Coalition.

About AHL and the AHL Coalition
The Advancing Healthy Lifestyles Conference provides a platform for cross-sector sharing of national, regional, and local best practices, challenges, opportunities, and success stories. Each year's conference agenda supports the overarching goals for the upcoming year and outlines tactics and tools for moving those goals forward. Year-round strategies are driven in large part by the AHL Coalition, which brings together partners to focus on healthy lifestyles and equity through the PANO lens and to expand resources across communities. For more information on PANO's Advancing Healthy Lifestyles initiative, visit HealthyDelaware.org/AdvancingHealthyLifestyles.