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.

Turning the Tide for Native American Children

November 19, 2012 | Report

The Notah Begay III Foundation conducted stakeholder interviews and held meetings to examine the epidemics of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes among Native-American children in New Mexico. This report shares their findings.

School Sport Participation Under Two School Sport Policies

February 1, 2013 | Journal Article

Intramural sports offer a promising strategy to increase physical activity among middle school students.

Understanding the Economics of Obesity

May 2, 2013 | Story

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

Addressing Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity Among Latino Youth

December 1, 2011 | Issue Brief

This research brief examines the environmental, socioeconomic and cultural factors that influence nutrition, overweight and obesity among Latino youth.

Physical Activity, Overweight and Obesity Among Latino Youth

December 1, 2011 | Issue Brief

This brief summarizes research that examines environmental, socioeconomic and cultural factors related to physical activity and/or obesity among Latino youth to identify solutions for reversing the obesity epidemic.

Influence of Media on Overweight and Obesity Among Latino Youth

December 1, 2011 | Issue Brief

This research brief explores the relationships between media marketing and the health behaviors of Latino youth, particularly as these behaviors pertain to overweight and obesity.

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 ...

Overweight and Obesity Among Latino Youths

May 1, 2010 | Issue Brief

Fact sheets detail the issues with African-American, Latino, American Indian and Native Alaska youths.

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 ...