Because schools are an important setting for fighting childhood obesity, the Foundation conducted two national polls of parents and teachers. Final results showed overwhelming agreement among parents and teachers on the role schools should play in stopping the epidemic, including replacing the contents of school vending machines with healthy foods and drinks, and requiring students to take physical education every day, in every grade level.

The Foundation also raised awareness of the connection between a community’s design and public health. In August, it supported the joint release of special issues of the American Journal of Health Promotion (AJHP) and the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) on the links between the built environment and health. The Foundation funded the lead study, Relationship Between Urban Sprawl and Physical Activity, Obesity, and Morbidity, published in AJPH. Findings showed that, as sprawl increases, so does the likelihood that residents will be overweight or have high blood pressure.

To counter the effects of sprawl and provide better opportunities for physical activity for all Americans, the Foundation continued to promote and support active living, a way of life that incorporates physical activity into daily routines. Active Living by Design, a $16.5- million national program, announced 25 community partnerships across the nation. Each will receive up to $200,000 over five years to address community design, land use, transportation, architecture, recreation and other issues that influence healthier lifestyles.

Smaller, community-based programs also continue to play a key role in the Foundation’s work to promote health and well-being. The Foundation has funded a range of community interventions to encourage healthy lifestyles among children and families. Students Run L.A., a school-based volunteer mentoring program that provides at-risk teens with the training and life skills needed to complete the Los Angeles marathon, will design a toolkit that helps communities nationwide develop similar initiatives. In New Jersey, Saint Peter’s University Hospital joined with New Brunswick elementary schools to encourage kids to “eat healthy” and participate in regular physical activity. Nurses, dieticians and physicians are providing children and their parents with the knowledge and tools they need for lifelong success in weight management.

The Foundation’s work has made it clear that efforts to strengthen the country’s public health system are needed at all levels, ranging from national leadership to state-run programs, community initiatives and local awareness campaigns.