Childhood Obesity Program Area

RWJF is committed to tackling one of the most urgent threats to the health of our children and families—childhood obesity. Our goal is to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015.

States, School Districts Help Keep Junk Foods and Sugary Drinks Out of Elementary Schools

June 10, 2013 | News Release

Elementary schools are less likely to sell candy, ice cream, sugary drinks, cookies, cakes, and other unhealthy snacks when states or school districts have policies that limit the sale of such items.

RWJF Comments on Proposed Nutrition Standards for School Snacks Foods and Beverages

Commentary

RWJF comments on USDA's proposed nutrition standards for so-called "competitive foods."

Industry Efforts to Improve Nutrition and Marketing for Children's Cereals Yield Mixed Results

News Release

The first Cereal FACTS study was released in 2009, and found that least healthy cereals were those most frequently and aggressively marketed directly to children as young as age 2.

NEA HIN Urges Educators to Push for Healthier School Snacks and Drinks

February 12, 2013 | News Release

NEA HIN Urges Educators to Push for Healthier School Snacks and Drinks National Education Association Health Information Network helps school communities take action against childhood obesity

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Statement Regarding the Proposal of Updated Nutrition Standards for School Snack Foods and Beverages

February 1, 2013 | News Release

The USDA proposed updated nutrition standards. Foundation President and CEO Risa Lavizzo-Mourey released a statement.

Industry Efforts to Improve Nutrition and Marketing for Children's Cereals Yield Mixed Results

June 22, 2012 | News Release

The first Cereal FACTS study was released in 2009, and found that least healthy cereals were those most frequently and aggressively marketed directly to children as young as age 2.

Statement from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Regarding the Release of the Report "Still Too Fat to Fight" from Mission: Readiness

Commentary

The widespread availability of junk food in our schools is a serious problem.

When it Comes to Healthy Snacks, Many Schools Do Not Make the Grade

October 31, 2012 | News Release

The press release regarding the release of Out of Balance: A Look at Snack Foods in Secondary Schools Across the states, a report from the Kids' Safe & Healthful Foods Project

Strong State Laws on School Snacks, Drinks May Help to Prevent Weight Gain, New Study Finds

August 15, 2012 | News Release

Children, teens in states with strong laws gained less weight as they got older than those in states without such policies.

Despite industry promises, Yale study finds unprecedented marketing of sugary drinks to youth

October 31, 2011 | News Release

Research findings uncover targeted outreach to African Americans and Latinos.