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.

Launching the Childhood Obesity Action Network for Clinicians

August 26, 2008 | Program Result

The National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality worked to create a learning network aimed at accelerating clinical improvements in the prevention and treatment of obesity in children.

Public Health Professionals as Policy Entrepreneurs

November 1, 2010 | Journal Article

Childhood obesity rose to the forefront of a crowded legislative agenda when multiple factors created a policy window of opportunity.

Changes in School Environments with Implementation of Arkansas Act 1220 of 2003

February 1, 2010 | Journal Article

This study presents a five-year evaluation of Arkansas Legislative Act 1220, legislation that: required schools to measure student body-mass index and report BMI to parents, restricted access to vending machines, and created state and local health advisory committees.

Arkansas Act 1220 of 2003 to Reduce Childhood Obesity

January 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This assessment of an early comprehensive piece of legislation to fight childhood obesity shows the weight status of Arkansas children may be stabilized and positive policy changes should support ongoing improvement. But implementing the act's intent faces ongoing challenges, according to this study from the 2008 Active Living Research Conference.

Year Five Evaluation

January 1, 2009 | Evaluation

Year five evaluation report regarding the progress in Arkansas to reduce childhood obesity.

Information for Action: School Policies to Prevent Childhood Obesity

December 22, 2008 | Program Result

In response to dramatic increases in the number of Arkansas children and adolescents who are overweight or at risk for overweight, the Arkansas legislature passed Arkansas Act 1220 of 2003 to Combat Obesity.

In Getting Older Patients to Exercise, Study Finds that Rx is Empathy

April 1, 2007 | Program Result

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health examined communication between health care practitioners and their older adult patients on physical activity.