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.

Unhealthy Food Ads Dominate Spanish TV Shows for Kids

May 8, 2013 | News Release

More than 84 percent of all foods and beverages advertised to children on Spanish-language television shows are unhealthy, according to a new study.

The Influence of Public and Green Spaces on Physical Activity Among Blacks and Whites

May 2, 2013 | Story

Rashawn Ray, PhD, a Scholar in RWJF's Scholars in Health Policy Research program (2010–12), examines patterns of exercise and use of public spaces by people of different racial and economic backgrounds.

Understanding the Economics of Obesity

May 2, 2013 | Story

Health economist John Cawley, PhD, examines obesity from all angles: costs, consequences, and cures.

Food Marketing to Children on U.S. Spanish-Language Television

May 2, 2013 | Journal Article

More than 84 percent of all foods and beverages advertised to children on Spanish-language television shows are unhealthy, as compared to nearly 73 on English-language television.

Identifying Factors Behind Race- and Gender-Based Inequalities in Obesity and Cancer

May 1, 2013 | Story

As a Health & Society Scholar, Whitney Robinson, PhD, MSPH, used methodologic innovations to study the incidence and causes of obesity in the United States.

CBO Scoring Misses Billions of Dollars in Potential Long-Term Savings from Effective Obesity Prevention Policies, According to New Study

April 24, 2013 | News Release

Obesity-prevention policies could save the U.S. billions of dollars in the long run. A new report from the Campaign to End Obesity shows that the way estimates for the costs of legislation are done now misses a lot of their value.

The Long-Term Returns of Obesity Prevention Policies

April 24, 2013 | Report

Obesity-prevention policies could save the U.S. billions of dollars in the long run. A new report from the Campaign to End Obesity shows that the way estimates for the costs of legislation are done now misses a lot of their value.

TEDMED 2013

April 16, 2013 | Feature

RWJF is a proud supporter of TEDMED's 20 Great Challenges of Health and Medicine and several of the innovative thinkers who have shared their ideas on the TEDMED stage.

Strong School Meal Standards May Help Reduce Obesity Among Kids From Lower-Income Families

April 11, 2013 | Story

A new study finds healthier school meals standards could mean lower obesity rates among lower-income children. Read a Q&A with the author.

Healthy Eating Research

April 5, 2013 | Program Result

Healthy Eating Research aims to reduce childhood obesity by funding studies to examine policy and environmental approaches with potential to improve children's diets - especially children in the groups at the highest risk for obesity.