Childhood Obesity

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News digest

This frequently updated news digest on the subject of Childhood Obesity highlights key articles from major journals and news publications. The digest is a free service of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, by The Advisory Board Company. © 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved. Sign up to receive the digest free via e-mail.

Nov 6, 2009 New White House Chef Advises Policy-makers on Improving Child Nutrition
In addition to traditional cooking duties, new White House chef Sam Kass is supporting the charge toward child nutrition reform and obesity prevention, the New York Times reports.
Nov 5, 2009 Chicago Project Taps Teenagers to Produce Healthy Cafeteria Items
Students at 14 Chicago-area high schools are participating in a project aiming to improve the nutritional content of the foods sold in their cafeterias, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Nov 5, 2009 Soft Drink Manufacturers Lobby against Soda Tax
Soft drink manufacturers have been spending millions of dollars to lobby against a national excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, including soda, juice drinks and flavored milk, the Huffington Post reports.
Nov 4, 2009 Louisiana Schools Receive Awards for Nutrition, Fitness Programs
In an effort to curb soaring childhood obesity rates in the state, the Louisiana Department of Education is rewarding schools that implement programs aimed at improving nutrition and promoting physical activity in schools, the Times-Picayune reports.
Nov 4, 2009 NIH Awards Funding for Obesity Prevention, Treatment Research
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded more than $12 million to the Miriam Hospital’s Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center to support various obesity prevention and treatment projects, The Medical News reports.
Nov 3, 2009 U.S. Cities Make Efforts to Increase Availability of Nutritious Foods
Several U.S. cities are participating in efforts aimed at improving the nutritional content of foods sold in convenience stores, the New York Times reports.
Nov 3, 2009 Chicago-Area Groups Partner to Launch Childhood Obesity Prevention Effort
A group of almost three dozen allies, including hospitals, school districts, charitable agencies and planners in a Chicago suburb, have joined to launch The Forward Coalition, an effort aimed at tackling childhood obesity, the Naperville Sun reports.
Nov 2, 2009 Minnesota Legislature Awards Funding to Create Healthier Environments
Bloomington Public Health in Minnesota has received a $1.6 million appropriation from the state legislature to support efforts to promote healthier environments, the MN Sun reports.
Oct 30, 2009 Study Suggests Letting Children Sleep Late Can Curb Overweight, Obesity
A study published in the November issue of Pediatrics suggests that allowing children to sleep late on weekends and holidays can help curb obesity and overweight, HealthDay reports.
Oct 29, 2009 Data Suggest Children Watch Entire Day's Worth of Television Each Week
New data from television monitoring group Nielsen suggest that each week children spend an average of an entire day watching television, representing an eight-year high for television viewing among children, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Oct 29, 2009 North Carolina School System Receives Funding for Physical Education Programs
The Carol M. White Physical Education Program has awarded $1.4 million to the Rowan-Salisbury School System in North Carolina, the Salisbury Post reports.
Oct 28, 2009 Report Shows Least Nutritious Cereals Are Heavily Marketed to Children
A new study by researchers at Yale University's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity suggests that the least healthy cereals are most aggressively marketed to children, Time magazine reports.
Oct 28, 2009 Report Suggests New York City Menu Labeling Law is Effective at Promoting Health Changes
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has released data suggesting that a citywide menu-labeling law has helped residents make healthier food choices, Reuters reports.
Oct 27, 2009 Children's Museums to Launch Childhood Obesity Prevention Programming
Children's museums in New York City and New Orleans are planning to launch programs aimed at addressing childhood obesity in high-need neighborhoods, the Associated Press reports.
Oct 27, 2009 West Virginia Makes Efforts to Improve Nutrition Standards for Day Care Centers
West Virginia school officials are poised to launch a program aimed at strengthening nutrition standards for the state's day care facilities, the Charlestown Daily Mail reports.
Oct 26, 2009 Tennessee Schools Making Efforts to Prevent Childhood Obesity
Tennessee is using student body mass index (BMI) data to evaluate current efforts to address childhood obesity and better target future interventions, the Daily News Journal reports.
Oct 23, 2009 North Carolina University Receives Funding to Develop Institute to Address Childhood Obesity
Lenoir-Rhyne University (LRU) in Hickory, N.C., has received a $3 million gift from Gungor and Diana Solmaz of Denver, N.C., to establish an endowment for the Solmaz Institute for Obesity, which will provide post-graduate training and hands-on experience in dietetics, counseling and fitness, the Hickory Daily Record reports.
Oct 23, 2009 HealthierUS School Challenge to Expand to Middle, High Schools
The Obama administration has announced plans to expand the HealthierUS School Challenge to include middle and high schools, the McPherson Sentinel reports.
Oct 22, 2009 FDA Launches Investigation into Food Packaging Nutrition Claims
The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced it will launch an investigation into whether the nutrition claims posted on food packaging violate federal food labeling laws, Reuters reports.
Oct 22, 2009 West Virginia Launches Campaign to Improve School Nutrition
The West Virginia Department of Education's Office of Child Nutrition has launched a statewide campaign aimed at improving the nutritional value of the foods served in schools, WHSV reports.
Oct 21, 2009 IOM Issues Recommendations to Improve Nutritional Quality of Federal School Meal Program
A new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) calls for updating federal standards to limit the calories in meals served in U.S. schools, as well as offer more fruits and vegetables, and whole grain food items, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Oct 20, 2009 Minnesota City Residents Gain Longevity as a Result of Diet, Exercise Changes
A 10-month-old effort to improve the dietary, exercise and lifestyle habits among residents of Albert Lea, Minn., has resulted in participating individuals gaining an average of 3.1 years of longevity, the Associated Press reports.
Oct 20, 2009 Oregon Launches Statewide Campaign to Counter Junk Food Advertising
The Nutrition Council of Oregon—a coalition of nutrition professionals representing public health, academic settings, nutrition and food programs and nonprofit organizations—has launched a statewide campaign aimed at countering junk food advertising, the Associated Press reports.
Oct 19, 2009 Pennsylvania Insurer, Departments of Health, Education Provide Funding for Childhood Obesity Prevention Efforts
Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and the state Departments of Health and Education have joined together to provide schools with grants to support efforts to reduce childhood obesity, the Pocono Record reports.
Oct 16, 2009 Study Suggests Neighborhood Can Impact Diabetes Risk
A study published in a recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that living in a neighborhood with ample access to fresh fruits, vegetables and other low-fat foods, and opportunities for exercise can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, MedPage Today reports.
Oct 16, 2009 First Lady Calls for Small Changes to Reduce Childhood Obesity
In a recent address to employees at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), First Lady Michelle Obama urged parents to make small changes to improve their children’s health and reduce the risk of obesity, Chicago Breaking News reports.
Oct 15, 2009 Study Finds Convenience Stores a Significant Source of Calories for Philadelphia School Children
A study of Philadelphia schoolchildren published in Pediatrics finds that children who shop at convenience stores before or after school purchased an average of 360 calories worth of foods and beverages during each visit, MedPage Today reports.
Oct 15, 2009 New Florida Nonprofit Promotes Vegetable Gardens
Florida’s Vero Beach is home to a new nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching children and their families about vegetable gardens and how they can be used to promote wellness, the TC Palm reports.
Oct 14, 2009 Los Angeles Officials Call for Limit on New Convenience Stores in Region
Spurred by results from a recent Health Affairs study suggesting that foods sold in convenience stores contribute to higher rates of obesity among residents in “poor communities,” city health officials are considering a plan that would prohibit the establishment of any new convenience stories in South Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Oct 14, 2009 Connecticut Attorney General Begins Investigation of Nutritional Labeling Campaign
The Connecticut attorney general is beginning an investigation into a national labeling campaign that promotes certain foods as nutritional choices, according to the New York Times.
Oct 14, 2009 USDA Kicks Off National School Lunch Week
As part of National School Lunch Week, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack recently traveled to select schools nationwide that have made efforts “to improve school nutrition, combat childhood obesity, and encourage healthy lifestyles” under the department’s Healthier US School Challenge, according to a USDA news release.
Oct 13, 2009 Mississippi City Mayor Ushers in Obesity Prevention Efforts
Chip Johnson, mayor of Hernando, Miss., spoke recently at the 2009 Southern Obesity Conference regarding his city’s efforts to reduce obesity, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.
Oct 12, 2009 U.S. House Approves Spending Bill for Nutrition Programs
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would provide $82.8 billion for several federal nutrition programs, Reuters reports.
Oct 12, 2009 AAFP, Coca-Cola Partner on Beverage, Sweetener Public Education Campaign
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has announced a corporate partnership with The Coca-Cola Co., under which the two will seek to educate the public about the role that consumer products play in a healthy lifestyle, the Kansas City Business Journal reports.
Oct 9, 2009 More Than 3,000 Schools Participate in International Walk to School Day
Students at schools nationwide and internationally participated in the annual International Walk to School Day on October 7, the Bangor Daily News reports.
Oct 9, 2009 Study Suggests Year-Long Ban on Fast Food in Los Angeles Falls Flat
A study published in a recent issue of Health Affairs suggests that the year-long ordinance to restrict the construction of stand-alone fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles has done little to curb obesity rates, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Oct 8, 2009 Groups Launch New Foundation Devoted to Reducing Obesity Rates
A coalition of more than 40 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers and nongovernmental organizations teamed up to launch the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF), which aims to reduce obesity rates by 2015, particularly among children, the El Dorado Times reports.
Oct 8, 2009 Study Suggests New York City Calorie Labeling Has Not Yet Produced Substantive Changes
A study published Tuesday in Health Affairs suggests that a law requiring New York City restaurant chains to post calorie information has not resulted in an overall decrease in the amount of calories purchased among lower-income city residents, Reuters reports.
Oct 7, 2009 N.J. Governor Launches Nutrition and Fitness Challenge for Students
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) recently announced the launch of a statewide campaign aimed at educating children about the importance of consuming nutritious food and getting regular physical activity, the New Jersey Newsroom reports.
Oct 7, 2009 CDC Study Suggests Schools are Limiting the Sale of Junk and Soda
A study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that U.S. schools are decreasing the sale of unhealthy foods and beverages, United Press International reports.
Oct 6, 2009 Indiana School District Receives Grant for Childhood Obesity Prevention Efforts
The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) in Indiana has received a three-year, $1 million grant to support school-based childhood obesity prevention efforts, WFIE 14 reports.
Oct 5, 2009 Minnesota Lawmaker Calls for Legislative Action to Reduce Childhood Obesity
Speaking at a recent hearing on children's issues, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D), chair of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Children's Health, called on Congress to support legislative efforts aimed at addressing childhood obesity, the Minnesota Post reports.
Oct 5, 2009 JMU Receives Grant to Design Nutrition Web Site
James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, Va., has received a three-year, $3.4 million grant from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to design and produce content for an interactive Web site featuring nutritional information for children and their families, the Staunton News Leader reports.
Oct 2, 2009 CDC Report Finds Americans Fall Short on Fruit, Vegetable Consumption
A new state-by-state report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that the majority of Americans fail to consume the recommend amount of fruits and vegetables, HealthDay News reports.
Oct 2, 2009 NFL Network Program Promotes Physical Education Class in Schools
Several professional football players from the Baltimore Ravens recently visited a Maryland middle school to encourage students to exercise more as part of the NFL's Keep Gym in School initiative, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Oct 1, 2009 As Federal Child Nutrition Programs Undergo Reauthorization, Groups Help Schools Provide Healthy, Affordable Lunches
At the same time that Congress and the president offer proposals to improve child nutrition programs, Oakland, Calif.-based Revolution Foods is seeking to improve school lunches, offering schools the opportunity to provide students with healthy foods at an affordable price.
Oct 1, 2009 New York City Schools Aim to Improve Quality of School Cafeteria Food
In an effort to improve the nutritional quality of the meals they offer, several New York City schools are serving fewer processed food items and have begun cooking with fresh food, the New York Times reports.
Sep 30, 2009 Nickelodeon Goes Dark for Sixth Annual Worldwide Day of Play
To promote the sixth annual World Wide Day of Play, all Nickelodeon television channels and Web sites will shut down for three hours on September 26, First Coast News reports.
Sep 30, 2009 Ochsner Health System Partners with Louisiana Grocery Chain to Promote Wellness
Louisiana-based Ochsner Health System has collaborated with a local grocery chain on an initiative aimed at promoting health and wellness education, Health Leaders reports.
Sep 29, 2009 Aetna, Georgia Public Broadcasting Launch Childhood Obesity Prevention Campaign
Aetna has partnered with Georgia Public Broadcasting to launch a yearlong campaign aimed at raising awareness about childhood obesity, the Hartford Business Journal reports.
Sep 28, 2009 Switch Program Improves Child Healthy Behaviors, Study Suggests
A study published in BMC Medicine suggests that the Switch program promotes improved eating habits among children and encourages them to engage in less television and computer screen time, United Press International reports.
Sep 28, 2009 New York City Plan Seeks to Add More Full-Service Grocery Stores
The New York City Planning Commission has unanimously approved a proposal to provide zoning and tax incentives to full-service grocery stores that establish outlets in locations throughout the city known as food deserts, the New York Times reports.
Sep 25, 2009 Schools in Chicago Participate in Farm-to-School Program
Schools in several Chicago neighborhoods are participating in a new program aimed at cultivating nutritional awareness among students, Extra News reports.
Sep 24, 2009 HealthPartners Research Foundation Receives $7.3 Million in Grants for Childhood Obesity, Hypertension Studies
The HealthPartners Research Foundation has received three grants totaling $7.3 million to study obesity and hypertension in children, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports.
Sep 24, 2009 Food Manufacturers Issue Guidance for School-Based Advertising of Junk Food
The Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative, an industry-funded self-regulatory group, has recently issued a fact sheet of principles to guide companies in their advertising efforts to schools, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) Newsroom reports.
Sep 23, 2009 Study Suggests Color-Coded Pediatric Patient Charts Enhance BMI Understanding
A study published in the September/October issue of Academic Pediatrics suggests that color coding pediatric patient charts may help improve parental understanding of body mass index (BMI), HealthDay News reports.
Sep 23, 2009 Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Launches Child Wellness Center
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has established a new center dedicated to treating childhood obesity and its related conditions, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Sep 22, 2009 San Francisco Mayor Proposes Measure to Charge Soda Retailers
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is planning to introduce legislation that would assess a surcharge to retailers that sell soda and sugar-sweetened beverages in an effort to help reduce obesity and diabetes among city residents, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Sep 21, 2009 St. Louis-Area Schools Plant Fruit and Vegetable Gardens
Several schools in the St. Louis metropolitan area have been planting fruit and vegetable gardens to teach children healthy eating habits at a young age and expand access to fresh produce, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Sep 21, 2009 Study Links Soda Consumption, Obesity
A recently released study of more than 40,000 California residents directly links consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages with obesity, the Ventura County Star reports.
Sep 18, 2009 Audit Reveals New York School Districts Still Selling Junk Food to Students
An audit commissioned by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli finds that some school districts throughout the state continue to provide students ample access to junk food, which undermines efforts to improve school nutrition in the state, Long Island Newsday reports.
Sep 17, 2009 Report Suggests Soda Tax Could Curb Obesity, Generate Revenue for States
An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that a penny per-ounce tax on soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages could help curb obesity and its related health problems, as well as generate revenue to cover increasing health care costs, Bloomberg reports.
Sep 16, 2009 University of North Alabama to Host Childhood Obesity Prevention Pilot
The University of North Alabama (UNA) is piloting a childhood obesity prevention program, WAFF 48 News reports.
Sep 16, 2009 GAO Calls for CMS to Cover Obesity-Related Services for Children, Adults
A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) suggests that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should expedite efforts to provide coverage guidance for obesity-related services for adult and child Medicaid beneficiaries, AHA News Now reports.
Sep 14, 2009 HHS, Ad Council Partner with Warner Bros. to Launch Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Public Service Announcements
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Ad Council have joined with Warner Bros. Pictures to launch a series of public service announcements (PSAs) that feature characters and scenes from the upcoming “Where the Wild Things Are” movie encouraging children and families to lead healthy lives, Advertising Age reports.
Sep 14, 2009 Sunflower Farmers' Market Offers Childhood Obesity Back-to-School Events
Sunflower Farmers’ Market will host a series of fun and healthy back-to-school events for children and families at its 26 stores across five states during the month of September, <cite>Natural Products Marketplace</cite> reports.
Sep 11, 2009 Study Suggests Sons of Immigrants at High Risk for Overweight, Obesity
A report funded by the Foundation for Child Development suggests that the sons of immigrants to the United States are at a higher risk of obesity than their non-immigrant peers, the Washington Post reports.
Sep 10, 2009 Boston Schools Add Structured Physical Activity to Recess
Several Boston-area schools are experimenting with strategies aimed at boosting physical activity during recess, the Boston Globe reports.
Sep 9, 2009 Study Suggests Physician Counseling Does Not Curb Child Overweight, Obesity
A study published online in the British Medical Journal suggests that counseling from a primary care physician (PCP) does not aid in weight loss among overweight children or improve their physical activity levels, MedPage Today reports.
Sep 9, 2009 South Carolina Schools to Participate in Subway Challenge
Jared Fogle, spokesperson for the Subway restaurant chain, has launched an effort aimed at reducing childhood obesity in South Carolina, WBTW News 13 reports.
Sep 8, 2009 Wisconsin County Receives Funding for Childhood Obesity Prevention Program
La Crosse County, Wisc., has received $333,000 in federal funding for a childhood obesity prevention program, WXOW News 19 reports.
Sep 8, 2009 Study Suggests Physical Activity Improves Child Sleep Habits
A study published in the September issue of the Archives of Childhood Disease suggests that child activity levels directly correlate to sleep quality, the Examiner reports.

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