Program Areas

Childhood Obesity

Physical Activity at School

RWJF Priority: Increase the time, intensity and duration of physical activity during the school day and out-of-school programs

Schools play a critical role in helping children lead active, healthy lives. By requiring active participation in daily physical education classes, providing activity breaks throughout the day, and supporting walking and bicycling to school, schools can increase students’ physical activity. After-school programs located in schools, parks and recreational centers also can develop innovative ways to help children be active.

The resources below, from RWJF grantees and partners, highlight recent efforts to examine and develop programs and policies that help children be active before, during and after the school day.

Childhood Obesity Policy Priorities

From the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids

Creating a Healthy Place for Kids in Trenton, NJ

Creating a Healthy Place for Kids in Trenton, NJ

"A long time coming." The New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids helped make Monument Elementary School in Trenton a healthier place for students by leading efforts to build a new playground and install a salad bar in the cafeteria.

Watch the video

More Research and Resources on Physical Activity at School

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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.

Physical Education and Student Activity

February 1, 2013 | Journal Article

A new policy was set in place in 2009, adopted by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) after audits revealed that the district was not enforcing physical education (PE) minute requirements.

District and School Physical Education Policies

February 1, 2013 | Journal Article

The association between PE polices at the district and school level, as well as the overall PE environment, and PE and recess time is addressed in this study.

Overview of the Texas Youth Fitness Study

September 1, 2010 | Journal Article

Study provides data on youth fitness in one state advances the knowledge base on school-based fitness testing and the factors influencing youth fitness.

The State of Play

February 1, 2010 | Survey/Poll

RWJF commissioned a first-of-its-kind Gallup poll of 1,951 principals in partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals and Playworks, a Vulnerable Populations grantee.

Active Education

November 8, 2007 | Issue Brief

Physical education, physical activity and academic performance.

The Boston Schoolyard Initiative: A Study of Its Schoolyard Renovations

October 3, 2008 | Program Result Report

Researchers in the Boston University Department of Environmental Health conducted a case study of the Boston Schoolyard Initiative, a project that provides funds and technical support to community groups dedicated to renovating schoolyards in Boston.

A Poll About Children and Weight

February 25, 2013 | Survey/Poll

This poll provides new insights into the epidemic of childhood obesity and the challenges families face between school and sleep.