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.

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.

Seeking Environmental and Policy Solutions to Address Latino Childhood Obesity

March 1, 2013 | Journal Article

Latino researchers, communities, and policy-makers are helping reshape the nation’s health system and improve community health.

Promoting Model Federal Policies to Improve Local Food Environments

August 1, 2011 | Program Result Report

PolicyLink, in partnership with the Food Trust and the Reinvestment Fund, developed and promoted model federal policies to improve local food environments and increase access to healthy, affordable foods.

Governors Get on Board to Help Their States Tackle Childhood Obesity

August 30, 2010 | Program Result Report

RWJF provided four grants to enable the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices to enlist governors in tackling the childhood obesity epidemic and encourage state innovation in policies and programs.

Association Between District and State Policies and U.S. Public Elementary School Competitive Food and Beverage Environments

June 10, 2013 | Journal Article

This study examines the association between district and state policy requirements regarding availability in public elementary schools of competitive food and beverages, including high-fat and high-sugar snacks, drinks, and salty snacks.

School Soft Drink Availability and Consumption Among U.S. Secondary Students

June 1, 2013 | Journal Article

The association between regular and diet soft drink availability in schools and student consumption is examined in this article.

Combining Photovoice and Focus Groups

March 1, 2013 | Journal Article

Engaging Latina teens in a photography project empowered them to address barriers to physical activity in their Connecticut community.

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.

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.

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.