Program Areas

Childhood Obesity

Physical Activity in Communities

RWJF Priority: Increase physical activity by improving the built environment in communities

When children have safe places to walk, bike and play in their communities, they’re more likely to be active and less likely to be obese. Communities can increase opportunities for physical activity by building new sidewalks, bike paths, parks, and playgrounds—and by improving those that already exist.

To encourage families to use these resources and facilities, communities can implement traffic-safety measures and neighborhood watch programs, so children are safe when playing outside. Such measures are especially important in underserved communities, where residents often face high crime rates, dangerous traffic patterns, and unsafe sidewalks.

The resources below, from RWJF grantees and partners, highlight recent efforts to identify the most promising solutions for promoting physical activity in communities.

Childhood Obesity Policy Priorities

From the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids

Renovating Northgate Park in Camden, NJ

Renovating Northgate Park in Camden, NJ

"We want to see kids and families active." The New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids helped to rennovate Camden's Northgate Park, where residents can now use the new playground and participate in activities like tennis, volleyball, and cycling.

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From Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities

A Healthier Park

A Healthier Park

Chicago's healthy improvements to Humbolt Park include installing community gardens and healthy vending machines, and improving pedestrian access to parks.

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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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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.

Adolescent Obesity

September 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This supplement of the Journal of Adolescent Health presents research documenting trends towards healthier foods and more physical activity in schools. The authors acknowledge that a wide range of factors influence obesity's development, but policy and environment solutions may be the key to reversing the childhood obesity trend.

Assessing the Built Environment Using Omnidirectional Imagery

February 1, 2012 | Journal Article

Several methods are used to examine the characteristics of the built environment as potential determinants of physical activity—surveys of community residents, observation by trained observers, and interpretation of geographical information system ( ...

Creating Gardens in 15 North Carolina Counties

September 20, 2009 | Program Result Report

FirstHealth is a nonprofit health system covering 15 counties with a network of hospitals, health and fitness centers, primary and dental care centers, and a hospice and home care program.

"Do You See What I See?"

January 1, 2010 | Journal Article

In this study, which first classified different urban neighborhood types, girls were found to be more sensitive to environmental barriers and facilitators to physical activity than boys.

Researchers Review State Policies on Promoting Walking and Biking

September 1, 2005 | Program Result Report

From December 2001 through October 2002, staff from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) collected and analyzed information on state statutes and policies that promote walking and biking for physical activity.

Safe Routes to School

September 1, 2011 | Report

This report examines the many benefits and cost-savings Safe Routes to School programs offer.