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.

Working Together for a Healthier Savannah

May 5, 2010 | Video

Southern city's leaders tackle obesity through an innovative initiative of policies and programs.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Statement Regarding Announcement of Prevention and Wellness Grant Awards

March 19, 2010 | Story

The following is a statement by Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., RWJF president and CEO.

Four Mayors and School Superintendent Honored for Exceptional Leadership in Preventing Childhood Obesity

November 2, 2009 | Video/Story

Their approaches illustrate a wide variety of policies that can help prevent childhood obesity.

Leadership for Healthy Communities: Advancing Policies to Support Healthy Eating and Active Living

National Program

To work with elected and appointed officials to create and promote healthier communities.

Action Strategies Toolkit

February 11, 2011 | Toolkit

Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national program of the RWJF, was created to support local and state leaders nationwide in their efforts to promote healthy, active communities and access to affordable healthy foods. The strategies in this toolkit include promising, evidence-based practices that advance these goals and build upon the work in which policy-makers are already engaged.

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 ...

Documenting the Work of Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities

February 8, 2012 | Video/Presentation Material

A video series focusing on three diverse communities shows how this national program aims to reverse childhood obesity.

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 ...

Landmark Program Making Progress Through Local Initiatives to Reverse Childhood Obesity

January 11, 2010 | Story/Interactive

In 50 communities across the country, the barriers that often keep children from eating healthy and being physically active are starting to come down.