A new report from the Institute of Medicine, Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: How Do We Measure Up?, finds that, while our country is beginning to grasp the severity of the childhood obesity epidemic, we are not applying enough resources to the problem. Additionally, there is a pressing need for evaluation of existing programs and better tools to monitor progress moving forward. The report says we currently lack a reliable evidence base that would allow us to inform future childhood obesity programs across the United States, and it urges that evaluation be an essential component of all efforts undertaken.

The progress report, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), builds on IOM's 2005 report, Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance, which recommended ways that families, schools, industry, the media, communities, and government could work together to address rising rates of obesity in children and youth.

The Problem

One-third (33.6 percent) of American children and adolescents are either obese or at risk for becoming obese. Between 1963 and 2004, obesity rates have quadrupled for children ages 6 to11 and tripled for adolescents ages 12 to 19. The childhood obesity epidemic carries a huge economic price-up to $14 billion in direct health care costs per year to treat kids, according to some estimates. Overweight and obese children and teens are much more likely to become overweight or obese adults. These kids also have greater risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, bone and joint problems, poor self-esteem and other health, social and psychological problems.

Background

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's goal is to help reverse the increase in childhood obesity rates by promoting healthy eating and physical activity in schools and communities throughout the nation. The Foundation places special emphasis on reaching the children at greatest risk: African-American, Hispanic, Native American and Asian/Pacific Islander children living in low-income communities.

The Foundation is committed to improving nutrition and increasing physical activity among children through proven and effective programs. Reports like Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity contribute significantly to identifying the most effective efforts to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic.

The Solution

Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: How Do We Measure Up? includes detailed recommendations for preventing childhood obesity for five key audiences—government, schools, communities, industry, and families. These include:

• Creating high-level task forces at the federal, state, and local levels to identify priorities and coordinate efforts;
• Implementing and evaluating all childhood obesity prevention programs;
• Widely disseminating promising practices; and
• Expanding successful programs and discontinuing those that are not working or are not cost effective.

In addition to these detailed recommendations, the report cites other actions to help reverse the childhood obesity epidemic, including:

• Mandating daily physical education in schools.
• Improving sidewalks and street crossings in communities to allow children to walk and bicycle to school.
• Providing farmers' markets and farm stands in low-income communities to increase the availability of fresh produce.
• Establishing policies on the types of foods and beverages that are advertised and marketed to children age 12 and younger during children's broadcast and cable television programming.