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Childhood Obesity

Research on Childhood Obesity

Investing in research is the cornerstone of RWJF’s approach for reversing the childhood obesity epidemic. Our grantees are examining which strategies have the greatest potential to promote healthy eating and physical activity among children. This work covers everything from how marketing influences children's food and beverage choices, to how communities can help kids be active, to the impact of school foods on students' health.

Some of our latest research is listed below, but you can also search to find exactly what you're looking for.

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Latest Childhood Obesity Research

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Recommendations for Healthier Beverages

March 12, 2013 | Issue Brief

Beverage choices contribute significantly to dietary and caloric intake in the United States. Healthy Eating Research convened an expert advisory panel to develop a comprehensive set of age-based recommendations to define healthier beverages.

Do Short Physical Activity Breaks in Classrooms Work?

February 28, 2013 | Issue Brief

With budget pressures increasing and cuts being made to physical education, schools are finding ways to help kids be active in class. This brief summarizes research regarding how classroom breaks can help young people be active and healthy.

Food and Beverage Marketing to Children and Adolescents

February 15, 2013 | Issue Brief

This research review summarizes the academic and industry literature on trends in food marketing to children and adolescents, as well as policy initiatives undertaken to address the contribution of marketing practices to the childhood obesity epidem ...

Do All Americans Have Equal Access to Healthy Foods?

December 11, 2012 | Issue Brief

Many Americans lack regular access to healthy, affordable foods. Supermarkets provide the most reliable access to nutritious and affordable produce, and their presence is an important indicator of a community's physical health and economic vitality.

Child-Directed Marketing Within and Around Fast-Food Restaurants

December 1, 2012 | Issue Brief

The fast-food industry spends $660 million to market its products to children and adolescents each year and spends the most on toys for kids’ meals—$360 million for the cost of toys alone.  These efforts help fast-food restaurants sell more than 1.2 ...

Sports Participation in Secondary Schools

October 1, 2012 | Issue Brief

Participating in school sports is an important means to increase physical activity among adolescents. This brief examines participation during the school year by secondary school students in interscholastic sports (played against teams from other sc ...

Declining Childhood Obesity Rates

September 1, 2012 | Issue Brief

In recent years, the national childhood obesity rate has leveled off. However, some cities and states have reported modest declines in their rates, following peaks in the early 2000s.