Program Areas

Childhood Obesity

Healthy Affordable Food

RWJF Priority: Increase access to high-quality, affordable foods through new or improved grocery stores and healthier corner stores and bodegas

Research shows that having a supermarket or grocery store in a neighborhood increases residents’ fruit and vegetable consumption and is associated with lower body mass index (BMI) among adolescents. Yet, many families do not have access to healthy affordable foods in their neighborhoods. This is especially true in lower-income communities, where convenience stores and fast-food restaurants are widespread, but supermarkets and farmers’ markets are scarce.

Childhood Obesity Policy Priorities

3 p.m. to Bedtime: Crunch Time for Children and Obesity

Crunch Time: Challenges and Solutions

Crunch Time: Challenges and Solutions

A poll reveals that many parents face a variety of barriers to helping their children lead healthy lives, especially during the "crunch time" from 3 p.m. to bedtime.

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More Research and Resources on Healthy Affordable Food

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Health Policy

September 17, 2012 | Feature/Topic

Browse research, insight and analysis on key issues affecting health and health care in the United States.

Re/Storing Nashville

August 25, 2011 | Program Result Report

Re/Storing Nashville sought to address lack of access to healthy foods and childhood obesity in three Nashville neighborhoods by increasing residents' access to full-service grocery stores.

Re/Storing Nashville

May 9, 2011 | Video/Story

In Nashville, a coalition of faith leaders seeks to improve health and prevent obesity by ensuring access to healthy foods in three underserved neighborhoods without quality grocery stores.

Live Well Greenville

January 1, 2011 | Toolkit

These resources from San Souci Community Garden, were designed to serve as guides for gardeners in growing fresh, healthy food in their community gardens.

US-Based Food and Agricultural Value Chains and Their Relevance to Healthy Diets

July 1, 2009 | Journal Article

A Global Value Chain (GVC) analysis examines the structure of food production and consumption systems and identifies leverage points that can bring change at a structural level. This article applies the GVC framework to two food value chains—chicken and tomatoes—to gain insights into the contemporary dynamics of food supply chains and their implications for healthy diets.

Affordability and Obesity

July 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This article examines the relationship between obesity and the affordability of food. While some argue that the availability of certain types of foods has a causal effect on obesity, there is little definitive data supporting this claim.

A New Light Rail Line with Stops in Low-Income Neighborhoods

August 4, 2010 | Program Result Report

ISAIAH, a faith-based community organization of 90 congregations, mobilized community activists to promote the links between transportation and access to healthy foods and to bring light-rail stops to low-income neighborhoods in the Twin Cities.

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.

Changing WIC Changes What Children Eat

January 1, 2013 | Journal Article

Changes in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Healthy Lifestyle Initiative saw improved health for young children participating in the New York State (NYS) WIC program: breastfeeding mothers and mothers waiting to feed infants solid foods increased; screen time and overall overweight and obesity decreased among children in NYS under four years of age.

A Faith-Led Effort to Combat Childhood Obesity in Oregon

September 9, 2011 | Program Result Report

Staff at Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon built and engaged two coalitions of faith communities - in Portland and Corvallis - government agencies, advocacy groups and others to improve the health of congregations and their communities.