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.

Mitchell H. Katz, MD

January 22, 2013 | Story

Clinical Scholar Mitchell H. Katz, MD, always lived by the mantra, "Be of use."

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities: Supporting Community Action to Prevent Childhood Obesity

National Program

To catalyze and support policy and environmental change projects to promote children's physical activity and healthy eating, especially in lower-income and racial/ethnic communities at greatest risk.

Helping Students Determine Community Needs, and How to Address Them

July 12, 2012 | Story

Walter Zelman, director of the public health department at California State University, Los Angeles, tapped into Commission to Build a Healthier America research to inform students as they assessed local health concerns.

Reaching the Goal of 60 Minutes of Physical Activity for Children

February 1, 2013 | Issue Brief

National experts recommend that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, but many children do not. This brief describes school and community strategies that can help kids be active.

School District Wellness Policies

February 28, 2013 | Report

A report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Bridging the Gap program finds that progress to improve school district wellness policies has stalled.

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 ...

Beverages Sold in Public Schools

August 14, 2012 | Issue Brief

Some Encouraging Progress, Additional Improvements are Needed

School Policies and Practices to Improve Health and Prevent Obesity

August 13, 2012 | Report

National Secondary School Survey Results

Estimated Energy Expenditures for School-Based Policies and Active Living

February 1, 2013 | Journal Article

This study estimates the minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity various school and community policy changes could support among youth.