It still takes a village: Advocating healthy living medicine for communities through social justice action

Countless individuals in the United States continue to experience effects related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, such as job/business instability, the breaking down of school systems, isolation, and negative health consequences. There are, however, certain populations and communities that continue to be disproportionately affected, resulting in severe health outcomes, decreased quality of life, and alarmingly high death rates. These populations typically live in historically excluded communities and identify as persons of color. To advance health equity in these communities, healthy living (HL) strategies are paramount. In fact HL Medicine - getting sufficient physical activity, practicing good nutrition, maintaining a healthy body weight, and not smoking, can be a viable solution. Applying these concepts, particularly the promotion of physical activity, through community collaboration can advance the goals of social justice action.