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.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Statement Regarding Release of "In It for Good: 2012" Annual Progress Report by Partnership for a Healthier America

March 7, 2013 | Commentary

RWJF President and CEO Risa Lavizzo-Mourey sees "pockets of progress toward reversing the childhood obesity epidemic," but says more needs to be done.

Poll Finds Big Gap Between Parents and Experts: Parents Less Likely to Recognize Children as Overweight or Obese

February 25, 2013 | News Release

A new poll released today shows a large a gap between parents’ perceptions of their children’s weight and expert definitions.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant Helps the Y Expand Efforts to Reduce Childhood Obesity

February 6, 2013 | News Release

The Y received a two-year, $7.8 million grant to expand Statewide Pioneering Healthier Communities initiative.

Daily P.E. Could Increase Youth Physical Activity by 23 Minutes per Day, According to New Study

January 17, 2013 | News Release

Requiring daily physical education in school could help young people be active for 23 minutes per day, according to a new study.

New Report Shows Importance of Calculating Full Cost Savings of Obesity Prevention

March 21, 2012 | News Release/Story

Highlighting obesity-related medical expenses, economists recommend 25-year window for scoring legislative proposals.

New Study Shows Importance of Calculating Full Cost Savings of Obesity Prevention

March 21, 2012 | News Release

Highlighting obesity-related medical expenses, economists recommend 25-year window for scoring legislative proposals.

California Making Headway in Battle Against Childhood Obesity But Study Shows Successes are Uneven

November 9, 2011 | News Release

Study shows statewide rates for overweight and obesity among school-age children may be leveling off, but progress is uneven across counties.

Adapting Physical Activity Interventions to Prevent Obesity in Culturally Diverse Populations

July 1, 2009 | Commentary

To address obesity in culturally diverse populations, interventions should include "real-world" practices that are adapted to cultural needs, values and resources, according to Terry L. Bazzarre, Ph.D., a former senior program director at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Essential Nexus

February 1, 2009 | Commentary

Active-living researchers must continue to press for more synthesis between policy and policy-makers and research related to physical activity. Key areas of action are to involve numerous jurisdictions from the outset and to demonstrate that health is a stakeholder in a variety of realms.

Active Living Research and Public Health

February 1, 2009 | Commentary

The Centers for Disease Control is committed to collaborating with the Active Living Research program and other programs related to improving activity levels on a population scale. Although promising areas for change are coming into focus, significant improvements in how much physical activity Americans engage in have yet to be made.