RWJF News Digest - Childhood Obesity

YMCA's 'Fit Start' Program Aims to Curb Childhood Obesity

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

School funding cuts and a focus on academics over physical fitness has emptied playgrounds and stalled physical education programs across the country, causing the childhood obesity rate to skyrocket. That prompted Phillip Newman, wellness director at the Bob Sierra YMCA Youth & Family Center, to brainstorm a solution. His idea came to fruition last August, when Newman started the Fit Start program at the YMCA. The program allows kids and teenagers to participate in physical activity through activities such as obstacle courses, spinning, zumba classes and boot-camp style training.

Get Kids to Eat Their Veggies

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Want kids to eat their vegetables? Try pictures, not words. Using a Richfield elementary school as their lab, researchers from the University of Minnesota placed images of green beans and carrots on the cafeteria food trays for one day. More kids took vegetables, and more kids ate them, according to a study published online Wednesday.

Richmond Program Will Take Residents to Grocery Stores

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

[Richmond mayor Dwight C.] Jones said Wednesday that he is launching the RVA Shoppers' Shuttle as a six-month pilot program to help people in so-called "food deserts" reach the oasis with transportation to local grocery stores. The pilot program… will initially provide a twice-monthly shuttle service to residents of Fay Tower, a public apartment complex for the elderly, and the public-housing complexes of Hillside, Creighton, Fairfield, Mosby and Whitcomb courts.

School Lunches Feature Local Produce

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Each month, the Farm to School program helps connect local farmers and school food service staff to bring a new Harvest of the Month product into Wood County schools. The program highlights a single, locally grown fruit or vegetable to taste test. Students, teachers and parents also receive educational materials about that item.

Study Says Hamilton County Students Not So Healthy, Well

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Thirty-five percent of Hamilton County high school students spend at least five hours a day watching television, playing video games and scouring the Internet, according to new survey results… Nearly 20 percent of students said they hadn't exercised in the seven days before they took the survey, and 18 percent drink three or more "sugar-sweetened soft drinks" every day.

First Lady to Promote Healthy Food in Calif.

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

First lady Michelle Obama [will visit] the site of a future Northgate Gonzalez Market in Inglewood on Wednesday to showcase efforts being made to draw grocers to low-income neighborhoods. Obama, who is on the second day of her two-day visit to the Los Angeles area, is making the stop as part of her "Let's Move!" campaign to boost healthy food and fitness. Part of the campaign includes promoting initiatives such as the new $264 million California FreshWorks Fund, which finances grocery businesses in areas underserved by traditional supermarkets.

Phys Ed a 'Must' in Fighting Obesity [Op-Ed]

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

For budget cutting purposes, removing two full-time physical education teachers from the staff would save the school district approximately $140,000 next year, according to a front-page article in this newspaper by reporter Paul Schott last Friday. This is pennywise and pound foolish (no pun intended). As one physical education teacher, Joyce Evans of Coleytown Elementary School, put it at the meeting: "Physical education is a necessity, not a luxury, for the health and well-being of the whole child. It is an integral part of the educational process."

Agua Caliente Elementary School Takes a Step Toward Better Health

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

All students at Agua Caliente Elementary School received pedometers Monday to kick off the school’s monthlong walking program. Every Friday in February, students who record the highest number of steps on their pedometer will be given prizes.

Communities Learn the Good Life Can Be a Killer

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Developers in the last half-century called it progress when they built homes and shopping malls far from city centers throughout the country, sounding the death knell for many downtowns. But now an alarmed cadre of public health experts say these expanded metropolitan areas have had a far more serious impact on the people who live there by creating vehicle-dependent environments that foster obesity, poor health, social isolation, excessive stress and depression. As a result, these experts say, our “built environment” — where we live, work, play and shop — has become a leading cause of disability and death in the 21st century.

Editor’s Note: The upcoming “Designing Healthy Communities” public television series described in this article is partially funded by RWJF.

Developers in the last half-century called it progress when they built homes and shopping malls far from city centers throughout the country, sounding the death knell for many downtowns. But now an alarmed cadre of public health experts say these expanded metropolitan areas have had a far more serious impact on the people who live there by creating vehicle-dependent environments that foster obesity, poor health, social isolation, excessive stress and depression. As a result, these experts say, our “built environment” — where we live, work, play and shop — has become a leading cause of disability and death in the 21st century.

Editor’s Note: The upcoming “Designing Healthy Communities” public television series described in this article is partially funded by RWJF.

78,000 Area Residents Live in Food Wastelands

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

About 78,000 people in the Miami Valley live in poorer areas that lack markets that sell affordable and nutritious food, and low-income residents and those without post-secondary educations have some of the highest obesity rates in the state.

Michigan Should Make Fitness a Priority [Op-Ed]

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

During his first year in office, [Governor Rick] Snyder has become a spokesperson reminding residents everyone has a responsibility to help Michigan fight its high rate of obesity. In addition to his Obesity Summit and his introduction of Pure Michigan Fit, he has taken a pledge to eat more nutritious foods, and exercise. While I applaud the efforts of his first year, he can and must do more. Gov. Snyder needs to expand Pure Michigan Fit to include comprehensive wellness programs for every K-12 student.

Researchers Untangling Link Between Hunger and Obesity

webmail@rwjf.org — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The picture of hunger in the America is changing. In the past, hunger may have conjured up images of gaunt faces or rail-thin children. Today, some people who struggle to feed their families are actually obese. It's a paradox that researchers are trying to untangle: how can people be both hungry and overweight?

Editor’s Note: Mary Story, interviewed for this piece, is the director of Healthy Eating Research, an RWJF national program.

In 'Food Deserts,' Attracting Grocers Remains a Struggle

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The lack of a supermarket near the four-mile stretch of the Seacrest Boulevard corridor has long been a problem, said Vivian Brooks, executive director for Boynton Beach's Community Redevelopment Agency. Major grocery chains like Publix and Winn-Dixie build in densely populated areas. But the area identified as a food desert in Boynton Beach only has about 10,000 residents, which is not enough to attract them.

Charter School Fights Fat

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Instead of using cartoon-size scissors, dozens of enthusiastic students broke through a ceremonial ribbon in full stride Thursday to mark the grand opening of the new fitness center at Charter School for Applied Technologies in the Town of Tonawanda… The 8,700-square-foot expansion of the elementary school gym means that all students in kindergarten through eighth grade receive four, 45-minute periods of physical education and one period of health-based classroom instruction weekly.

$1 Million Grant Will Help Lemon Grove Eat Better, Live Healthier

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

A new community group will help residents of Lemon Grove lighten up and improve their bottom lines. The San Diego-based nonprofit group Community Health Improvement Partners has received a $1 million grant from Kaiser Permanente to fight obesity in Lemon Grove through eating better and living more active lifestyles.

Many Districts Have Already Adjusted to New School Lunch Rules

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s long-awaited rules to revamp school meals were announced Wednesday, the first major change to school meals in 15 years… The proposed rules were announced a year ago in December. Since then many schools, realizing change was coming, began preparations, working with vendors and finding new recipes. As a result, many Kansas City-area schools say they’ll be ready when the rules go into effect July 1.

New Rules for School Meals Aim at Reducing Obesity

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Hoping to combat the growing problem of childhood obesity, the Obama administration on Wednesday announced its long-awaited changes to government-subsidized school meals, a final round of rules that adds more fruits and green vegetables to breakfasts and lunches and reduces the amount of salt and fat.

L.A. County Takes Step to Promote Exercise, Reduce Obesity

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Los Angeles County supervisors approved an ordinance Tuesday that requires new developments to have wider sidewalks, bicycle parking and other changes to promote exercise and reduce obesity. The ordinance also would make it easier for communities to start community gardens and hold farmers markets.

School Lunches to Have More Veggies, Whole Grains

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Schoolchildren's favorite lunch — the ubiquitous frozen pizza — is about to get healthier. First lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are expected to announce Wednesday that most school meals, including pizza, will have less sodium, more whole grains and more fruits and vegetables as sides. The popular pizzas will still be on school lunch lines but made with healthier ingredients.

U.S. States and Cities Ranked for Biking, Walking Habits

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The Bicycling and Walking in the United States: 2012 Benchmarking Report, released by the Alliance for Biking & Walking, provides a look at commuting by cycling and walking in the U.S., how safe those commutes are, and where transportation funding is going -- or not going -- to promote these alternative means of local travel. The report ranked states and cities on bicycling and walking levels (how many people commute by bike or foot) as well as fatality rates.

New Orleans Area Schools Test Healthful-Snack Vending Machines

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Just outside the Gretna school's cafeteria, the Fresh Healthy Vending machines dispense such fare as baked pita chips, soy milk, apple sauce, low-fat granola bars and organic iced teas. Adjacent to it is a Pepsi machine that carries only water and flavored water. Gone are the chocolate bars and soft drinks to which students once flocked. Thomas Jefferson is among 17 public and private schools that have welcomed the machines on campuses in Jefferson and Orleans parishes amid a national obesity epidemic.

Physical Education a Vital Link to Students' Health and Success [Op-Ed]

webmail@rwjf.org — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Florida House Bill 4057, sponsored by Rep. Larry Metz, and Senate Bill 1644, sponsored by Sen. Evelyn Lynn, would remove the current requirement for physical education in our middle schools. According to Capital News Service, Metz said: "I don't think parents get a pass for the health and welfare of their students. I think they're primarily responsible for that." We absolutely agree that parents ultimately decide what is best for their children; however, schools serve as an excellent venue to assist parents in providing their children the opportunity for daily physical activity and educating them as to the importance of exercise and developing the skills necessary to support an active and healthy lifestyle.

Walgreens Targets 'Food Deserts' in Cities

webmail@rwjf.org — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Walgreens plans to turn at least 500 of its 7,800 U.S. stores, most in low-income neighborhoods, into what the company is calling “food oases.”

Jefferson County Food Council Pushes Healthy Helpings

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

A group formed to tackle food access issues in Jefferson County has chosen a list of members that includes cooks, gardeners, food industry employees, health experts and business owners. The Birmingham-Jefferson Food Policy Council, which formed last fall, announced its 21 members and held its orientation meeting this month. Supported by the Greater Birmingham Community Food Partners and funded in part by a federal grant designed to tackle health issues in the county, the organization is part of a new breed of food councils forming around the country to tackle food-related problems from hunger to obesity.

Grant Will Help Quiet Corner Health Group Spread Its Winning Formula

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The HealthQuest Northeast Connecticut coalition was one of 15 groups nationwide selected to mentor another community as part of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program. HealthQuest is a grant-funded community collaboration project that is part of the Centers’ Action Communities for Health, Innovation and Environmental Change, or ACHIEVE. The HealthQuest project started informally in 2007 and formally in 2009 after receiving a three-year grant from the centers. The project seeks to improve community health, especially by lowering obesity rates, through policy change, according to its mission.

Summit Focuses on Community Health in Natrona County

webmail@rwjf.org — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Natrona County could reduce chronic illness in the community by improving access to nutritious foods and creating more options for exercise, participants at a health summit said Friday. The recommendations will be used by a health committee to develop new resources for improving public health. The group, which goes by CINCH — Casper’s Initiative to Nurture Community Health — is working to cut obesity and other chronic illnesses in the Casper area.

Food Lion Closings to Expand Chattanooga Area ‘Food Deserts’

webmail@rwjf.org — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

It takes hours for thousands of Chattanoogans to get to the grocery store. With Food Lion shutting down seven of its eight Chattanooga-area stores, that number is only going to rise.

Big-City Mayors Dig In To Food Policy

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Food policy can sound like a dreary enterprise best left to Washington, D.C. But big-city mayors are starting to see local food policy as a key step in getting healthy, affordable food to their constituents. This afternoon, the mayors of America are meeting in Washington, D.C., to launch their own food policy task force. The goal is to share information on projects that work, and also make sure that federal food policy doesn't muck up those local efforts.

Two Tucson Groups Receive Grants to Fight Childhood Obesity

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The Tucson-based Grow 2B Fit Foundation and the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona have received grants from UnitedHealthcare for projects they developed to combat childhood obesity… The projects are two of eight youth-led initiatives to receive money from the healthcare company. UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group company, awarded $8,000 in HEROES grants to organizations in Arizona for youth-led projects that address childhood obesity. The program is considered important in Arizona, where 30.6 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 are overweight or obese.

Allentown Receives $120,000 Award for Childhood Obesity Prevention Program

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Allentown has received a $120,000 award for one of the city's childhood obesity prevention initiatives. The city was awarded for its Fruits and Veggies on the Move program, which includes a truck that brings free fruits and vegetables to Allentown playgrounds and recreation sites… Allentown was one of six cities around the world to receive 2012 Childhood Obesity Prevention Awards from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, according to city spokesman Mike Moore.

President Clinton Waging War on Childhood Obesity

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

President Clinton is working with 13,000 schools across the country to provide healthier meal choices to millions of kids… Nearly 25 million children in this nation… are overweight or obese. Today a war is being waged on the front lines, and students are getting the support of the school, ultimately choosing healthier foods and opting for exercise.

Editor’s Note: The Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program is featured in this story. The program is a grantee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Bill Clinton Tackles Childhood Obesity

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

With nearly 25 million American children being overweight or obese, the war is being waged on the front lines. A major anti-obesity initiative launched in 2006 has found its way into 13,000 schools, most of them in urban districts, changing menus from frozen to fresh, from sugary sodas to fresh-squeezed juices.

Editor’s Note: The Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program is featured in this story. The program is a grantee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Obesity Rates in U.S. Appear to Be Finally Leveling Off

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

After a 30-year, record-shattering rise, U.S. obesity rates appear to be stabilizing. New statistics cited in two papers report only a slight uptick since 2005 — leaving public health experts tentatively optimistic that they may be gaining some ground in their efforts to slim down the nation. Many obesity specialists say the new data, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are a sign that efforts to address the obesity problem — such as placing nutritional information on food packaging and revising school lunch menus — are beginning to have an effect in a country where two-thirds of adults and one-third of children and teens are overweight or obese.

US Obesity Epidemic Shows No Hint of Retreating

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

More than one-third of adults and almost 17 percent of children were obese in 2009-2010, echoing results since 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday. "It's good that we didn't see increases. On the other hand, we didn't see any decreases in any group," said CDC researcher Cynthia Ogden.

Learning to Be Lean

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

As one of the many outgrowths of the sweeping federal health care law, health insurers and employers must now pay the cost of screening children for obesity and providing them with appropriate counseling. The early results of efforts [from UnitedHealth and YMCA of the USA] are promising, according to the insurer, which said that 84 percent of the 155 children and teenagers who completed the program had an average 3.5 percent reduction in weight after six months. Parents also lost weight, according to UnitedHealth. The insurer says it is expanding the program, even as it continues to study its longer-term impact.

Santa Rosa ‘HEAL’ Zones Target Obesity [Op-Ed]

webmail@rwjf.org — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Kaiser Permanente recently awarded Santa Rosa a three-year Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) grant to help Santa Rosa residents, particularly those living on the southern edge of the city, eat better and move more.

Valley Schools Look to Curb Childhood Obesity

webmail@rwjf.org — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Last year, Ohio’s Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Act took effect, aiming to curb childhood obesity by offering more-healthful food and beverage options and increasing students’ physical activity. Austintown schools have several programs in place that address the goals, said Superintendent Vince Colaluca. “We’re a big believer in impacting students on all avenues,” he said. “We have a total wellness committee that looks at the total welfare of children and staff.”

Urban Farming, and Lots of It, in Cleveland [Editorial]

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Local nonprofit Neighborhood Progress Inc. led the way in re-imagining Cleveland's shift from cratered, garbage-strewn lots into sustainable civic investments and from inner-city food deserts into urban oases of grapevines, bean trellises and native plantings. Their innovative blueprint just won the 2012 American Planning Association's National Planning Excellence Award for Innovation in Sustaining Places.

Live54218 Initiative Gains $88,000 Boost

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

A Brown County initiative to reduce childhood obesity has gotten a boost from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Live54218, a collaboration between the Green Bay Press-Gazette and other community organizations, recently received $88,000 through Action Communities for Health, Innovation and EnVironmental change (ACHIEVE), an initiative of the CDC…The [Live54218] program kicked off in 2011, and its next steps will be to increase access to farmers markets, impact community street plans to encourage walking and biking, implement physical activity policies for child care, and introduce broad strategies for physical activity in schools.

‘Garden on the Go’ Expands Route, Surpasses 5,000 Sales

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Garden on the Go, Indiana University Health and Green B.E.A.N. Delivery's mobile produce truck, is on the move again, this time expanding its route to 16 stops shortly after celebrating its 5,000th transaction. The truck, which provides fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables to low-income Marion County neighborhoods, started in May with 12 stops and has already built a strong enough following to warrant expanding the route.

California Soda Tax Dies in the Legislature

webmail@rwjf.org — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

A controversial soda tax aimed at fighting childhood obesity failed to make it out of a key state legislative committee this week, effectively killing the bill.

Flipping Over Kids' Health: YMCA Gets $20K Grant for Schools Projects

webmail@rwjf.org — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Workers from the Shasta Family YMCA were bending over backward to help students at Cypress Elementary School literally bend over backward. The students were also bouncing, jumping, rolling, cartwheeling, flipping and balancing Thursday, as workers from the YMCA stopped by to encourage kids to use unconventional ideas to stay fit… The program comes from a $20,000 Y-USA Pioneering Healthier Communities grant.

Sugary Soda Ups Risky Fat Deposits

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Drinking a liter of regular cola every day increases the amount of fat in the liver and in the muscles and surrounding the organs in the belly, according to a new Danish study. That kind of fat buildup has been linked in other studies to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Ways to Empower Kids to Take Charge of Their Health

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Sure, you can stock your fridge with nutritious snacks and offer a good example when it comes to exercise, but recent studies suggest that, just like grown-ups, kids need strong internal motivation (not micromanagement) in order to get fit.

Can Online Games Influence What Kids Eat?

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

As if the ads on TV for the latest toy, fast food, sugary snacks and fat-laden meals weren’t bad enough, now researchers say you have to worry about another insidious way that manufacturers are appealing to the youngest among us — advergames. That’s the term for the enticing and engaging online games that food makers are increasingly supplying on their web sites as a way to introduce children to their products. The companies’ logos and goods are unavoidable on these games, which also include inducements to buy the products in order to launch new features on the game.

Soda Tax Could Prevent 26,000 Premature Deaths, Study Finds

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The soda tax is back on the table, and this time proponents say that a tax of a penny per ounce of sugar-sweetened beverage would not only raise $13 billion a year but also save $17 billion in medical costs by reducing the incidence of heart disease and diabetes.

Rhode Island Congressman Pushes Farm, School Link

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

A Rhode Island congressman called Tuesday for the expansion of an initiative that aims to increase the availability in the state's schools of healthy, locally-grown food. Rep. James Langevin visited schools in Warwick and North Kingstown to promote the "Farm to School" program. "Farm to School" encourages schools to buy produce and other foods locally as part of an effort to support local farms and get healthier lunches in schools.

In U.S. Food Desert, a Vision of Oases (Op-Ed)

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

If we want to fight the obesity epidemic in this country, we should start with the most basic solution: access to healthy foods. Increasing access to grocery stores in underserved communities will address this growing problem and will help stimulate local economic development… To address this growing health and economic problem, we have recently reintroduced the bipartisan Healthy Food Financing Initiative, aimed at creating a national effort to expand access to healthful, fresh foods in underserved communities.

Freshness of Winter Has Arrived

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Yesterday was opening day of the Dorchester Winter Farmers’ Market, which organizers hope will attract all members of the community - including low-income families - to shop healthy and locally… The farmers’ market in Codman Square is the only one in the city where shoppers can use their electronic benefit transfer cards issued as part of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to pay for groceries. Those who qualify for the program include low-income families and some people with disabilities.

Chick-fil-A Kids Menu Getting Healthier Options, Dumping Hi-C

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Chick-fil-A is making some menu changes to offer a little healthier options for children. The Atlanta-based chain said on Monday it will introduce Grilled Chicken Nuggets and Buddy Fruits applesauce for kids meals and eliminate Hi-C from its children's beverage line… Chick-fil-A's said that when its grilled nuggets, fruit cup and one-percent milk are combined as a meal, the intake is 210 calories and 3 grams of fat. That is a 56 percent reduction in calories and 86 percent cut in fat from previous offerings, the company said.

Green Bay Area Day Cares Take Steps to Get Children Active Early

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The Active Early program, now in its second year…works with local child care centers to improve fitness among young children by teaching them to stay active through organized movement and free playtime. The goal is two hours of activity a day.

Philabundance Puts Groceries in Chester

webmail@rwjf.org — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The city of Chester, Pa., which has been without a grocery store for more than 10 years, will soon be able to provide needy residents with low-cost, nutritious food. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation donated $1 million to the food pantry Philabundance to help build a new community food center in Chester. The food center will address food inequality by providing citizens with fresh produce and other food products at low prices, with some food free of charge.

Phys Ed Classes Target of Bill

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Earlier this month, a Florida House committee approved a measure that would eliminate a state law requiring P.E. classes between sixth and eighth grades and instead leave that decision to locally elected school boards.

Texas Must Win War on Diabetes [Op-Ed]

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Hopefully, lawmakers in the next session will realize it is more effective and efficient to use our resources to prevent a disease rather than waging a costly battle against it. Of course there is only so much laws can do. We need parents, teachers, and entire communities to help, to lead by example. Nobody wants our children to be permanently weighed down — literally — with bad choices made by default. Our children should have access to the building blocks they need to lead strong, healthy and productive lives.

Sugary Drinks Tied to Breastfed Kids' Weight

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Babies who were breastfed longest and drank few or no sugary beverages were about half as likely to be obese as kids who weren't breastfed or who consumed the most sugary drinks, in a new study of Hispanic children in southern California.

Sen. Gillibrand Visits Hostos Community College in Bronx to Discuss Food Stamps and Farm Bill

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Farm country the Bronx is not. But the concrete jungle will have plenty at stake as Congress debates the 2012 Farm Bill, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told nearly 100 anti-hunger advocates Wednesday at Hostos Community College. The junior senator outlined her Food Bill goals with U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Bronx/Queens) and addressed concerns about hunger and nutrition in poor Bronx neighborhoods.

Daycare Providers Say Kids Are Too Inactive

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Potential playground hazards, a focus on classroom learning and boring play equipment have children spending too little time being physically active at daycare, according to a survey of staff members at child care centers in Ohio.

Daycare Providers Say Kids Are Too Inactive

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

More Cash Coming to Help Eliminate New Jersey's Food Deserts

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The struggle to eliminate New Jersey's food deserts -- urban neighborhoods where fresh fruit and vegetables are scare and obesity and diabetes are correspondingly common -- is getting critical assistance from two sources. First, the state Economic Development Authority's New Jersey Food Access Initiative has gotten a loan and a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Second, legislation is before the Assembly that could divert funds from Urban Enterprise Zones to the EDA initiative.

Dayton Receives $161K for School Sidewalks

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The city of Dayton will receive a grant of $161,200 as part of a program Gov. Steve Beshear announced Wednesday that enables children to walk or bicycle safely to school. Dayton was among eight Kentucky cities to get a combined $1.53 million to help pay for projects tied to the Safe Routes to School program.

Some In Congress Ready to Act Against Schools' PE Cutbacks

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

With public schools cutting back on spending for physical education, some members of Congress want to intervene… "It's obviously a clear problem," said Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma. "Childhood obesity is spiking, and actually our overall health is to some degree declining." When Congress considers overhauling its federal education law early this year, Smith and a bipartisan group of 84 other House members want to include language that would pressure schools to offer more PE: Their idea is to force school officials to issue yearly reports on how much time students engage in physical activity, making it easier for the public to compare schools.

Lincoln Senator Would Tax Soda Pop to Help Fight Childhood Obesity

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Whether you call it soda, pop or a soft drink, Lincoln Sen. Bill Avery would like to tax it. Avery introduced a bill (LB753) Wednesday that would no longer allow sugary soft drinks to be classified as food, and thus take away their sales tax exemption. They would join alcoholic beverages, dietary supplements and tobacco as nonfood products.

School Gets a Playground for the Pre-K Set

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The preschool students at Toro Park School have been enjoying more time outdoors since community members and school officials helped to install pint-sized playground equipment at the Washington Union School District campus in Salinas.

Outside Forces Affect What We Eat, How Much Exercise We Get

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Beyond what we eat, what we're born with and what we do, our environment contributes in major — and mostly unnoticed — ways to our health and our weight. All have conspired to make two-thirds of adult Americans and one-third of American youths overweight. As this four-part series has revealed, the reasons Americans are fat and getting fatter are complex. The answer is not simply that too many Americans eat too much and exercise too little… In today's finale, local and national obesity experts weigh in on 10 ways our environment and government policies have contributed to Americans' growing girth.

Battle to Stem Childhood Obesity Expected to Be a Focus of 2012

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

New research shows that kids who eat school lunches are more likely to be obese than kids who bring lunch from home. The battle to cut back childhood obesity is expected to be of increasing importance in the next few years.

Healthy Eating Fuels Students

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Escambia and Santa Rosa schools adhere to U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for nutrition. And they follow the MyPlate concept for their breakfast and lunch programs. MyPlate replaces the traditional food pyramid and calls for half of each meal to consist of fruits and vegetables, with servings of protein, dairy and whole grains. Teaching it to children is part of the state and national push to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Lots of Exercise May Boost Kids' Grades

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

A Dutch review of prior research reveals that the more physically active school-aged children are, the better they fare in the classroom.

Looking Ahead to Food Politics in 2012 [Column]

webmail@rwjf.org — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

What's on the food politics agenda for 2012?

Grim Childhood Obesity Ads Stir Critics

webmail@rwjf.org — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is hearing strong criticism from some camps for its in-your-face advertising campaign designed to attack Georgia’s childhood obesity epidemic. But the pediatric health system stands firmly by its approach, saying the grim advertisements featuring overweight kids are necessary to get families to recognize the widespread public health problem.

Salad Bars Are a Hit at Hurst-Euless-Bedford Elementary Schools

webmail@rwjf.org — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

As part of a plan to promote health, introduce children to fresh fruits and vegetables and wean them off junk food, the Hurst-Euless-Bedford district is adding salad bars to elementary schools.The bars have opened at Wilshire and South Euless elementary schools. Bedford Heights, Meadow Creek and Lakewood will have them next school year, and more are on the way.The salad bars have proved popular, school officials say.

Bill Would Mandate Physical Education in All Public K-12 Schools in Michigan

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Rep. Maureen Stapleton, D-Detroit, recently introduced a bill that would mandate every school offer physical education and health programs. The bill would establish the amount of time a student would take part in physical education during the course of the school year. The bill states that schools have a program for health and physical education for students of both sexes in all schools and that each student attending public schools that is physically able would have to take the class.

Obesity, Diabetes Pose 1-2 Threat to Young Americans

webmail@rwjf.org — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Doctors have long been concerned that increasing rates of childhood obesity could fuel a diabetes epidemic. Study results have now underscored that fear. Researchers have found that the length of time a person carries excess weight directly contributes to an increased risk for type 2 diabetes.

Kansas Health Official Says Targeting Obesity Top Priority

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Kansas' top health official has targeted obesity as his main priority for change in the new year, noting there has been steady rise in the number of overweight Kansans over the past 15 years.

Fruits, Vegetables Go Direct to Markets

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Each week farmer Steve White from Ramona delivers a small truckload of his fruits and vegetables to four corner stores in western Chula Vista. The fresh produce is brought in through a $75,000 program called Cilantro to Stores, which is intended to improve access of locally grown, healthy, affordable food to underserved communities.

Students Try New, Healthy Snacks

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

In December, students at 17 Springfield elementary schools snacked on snow peas, Satsuma mandarins, blood oranges and baby avocados. Thanks to a federal grant administered through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, students at select schools are trying a wide variety of fresh and healthy snacks each week.

Grant to Chico State Aims to Get Healthier Food to Low-Income People

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

More fruits, nuts and veggies in local hands is the goal of a new $500,000 grant awarded to Chico State University. Specifics of the program include more community gardens, cooking classes and better access to healthful food for low-income buyers. The grant was awarded by the specialty crop program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Kishwaukee Family YMCA Working Out Co-Ops

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Kishwaukee Family YMCA has opened a new facility at Huntley Middle School as the organization looks for ways to incorporate healthy habits in schools and workplaces… Kim Jass-Ramirez, community outreach director for the YMCA, said the new location is a great example of how the YMCA is teaming with entities such as DeKalb School District 428 to fight the obesity problem plaguing the community.

A Vast Child Obesity Gap Between Affluent City, Lower-Income

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

One Manhattan Beach has the lowest child obesity rate in L.A. County, Bell Gardens the highest. Their demographics are starkly different, and residents' perceptions on the issue can contrast sharply.

Successful Anti-Obesity Program Expanding in Maine

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

An anti-obesity program adopted by greater Portland-area schools and promoted by First Lady Michelle Obama is working so well that supporters are expanding it to other parts of Maine. The five fundamental principles of the program, known as "Let's Go!," are also catching notice from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Losing Baby Fat Lowers Heart Risks Later

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Obese children who grow up into normal-weight adults have the same cardiovascular risk as people without a history of obesity, according to a meta-analysis in the New England Journal of Medicine. Obese children are at high risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease but the contribution of childhood obesity to long-term cardiovascular risk, independent of adult weight, has never been clearly established, researchers said.

Getting Another Chain Grocery in Camden Remains Difficult

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

The acute shortage of supermarkets has landed parts of Camden on the list of the country's worst food deserts - defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as low-income urban areas in which at least a third of residents live more than a mile from a supermarket that does at least $2 million in annual sales. Areas of downtown, North Camden, and Cramer Hill were labeled food deserts by the department this year. Nutrition and poverty experts have linked the lack of food options to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and other health problems.

New Marion County Program Gives Families Tools to Live a Healthier Lifestyle

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

The 5210 in 30 (days) Challenge is simple. Every day, eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables, spend less than two hours in front of the computer or television, exercise for at least one hour and don't drink any sweetened beverages. Track these goals in a booklet for 30 days, then share the challenge with others. The challenge was launched at various schools and workplaces throughout the county this year, including Howard Street Charter School, Marion County government offices and Hope Orthopedics. More than 600 people have participated in the program.

Obesity Linked to Higher Esophageal Cancer Death Rates

webmail@rwjf.org — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Obese people who have had surgery to treat esophageal cancer are twice as likely to have a recurrence of the disease or die from cancer within five years as patients of normal weight, according to a new study.

Parents May Hold Key to Healthy Weight in Hispanic Kids

webmail@rwjf.org — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Parents of overweight Hispanic children are willing to make food and lifestyle changes that will benefits their kids' health, a new study suggests. The findings may help improve efforts to combat the childhood obesity epidemic among Hispanic Americans, the largest and fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States, said the researchers at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Wealthy Nations with a Lot of Fast Food: Destined to be Obese?

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

The growing worldwide obesity epidemic has been blamed on a number of factors, but a study argues that it may be inexorably linked with wealthy nations and their fast-food restaurants.

Startup Grocer Gets Fresh-food Loan

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

A Central City grocery store is the first to receive a loan through an initiative that seeks to provide residents with greater access to healthful food choices in New Orleans, Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration announced Wednesday.

Access to Groceries Slim for Many in BR [Column]

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

While we have a plethora of supermarkets in many parts of the city — a direct result of the economic prosperity of those areas — some neighborhoods have few food options, if any. The grass-roots community group Together Baton Rouge is trying to change that. The organization, which seeks to bridge the wide gaps in income, education and quality of life that exist within our community, has identified a so-called food desert in Scotlandville and is working to bring a full-service grocery store to the north Baton Rouge area.

As Obesity Rises, More Suffer From Acid Reflux

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

As the obesity epidemic spreads around the world more people are suffering from acid reflux, likely increasing the number of those who will develop esophageal cancer, a new study suggests.

Overweight Children May Be at Risk for Asthma

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Overweight children may be more likely to develop asthma by the time they go to school, but losing weight early on may counter that risk. A new study shows children who were overweight at ages 1, 4, and 7 were up to twice as likely to have asthma by age 8 as normal-weight children.

Farm Subsidies: We Can Cut the Fat in Spending and in Our Food [Opinion]

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

At a time when America's waistlines and our national debt are both reaching record levels, we are spending billions of dollars every year on subsidies for the massive agribusinesses that grow genetically modified, pesticide-laden commodity products like corn that are ultimately turned into processed foods like Twinkies. Meanwhile, growers of fruits and vegetables are on their own.

Obesity Epidemic May Have Roots in 1950s

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

A leading fitness and nutrition expert at Louisiana State University, [Melinda Sothern] has a theory that the tide of obesity that has swept the nation in the last two decades had its roots in what young mothers did, or didn't do, in the postwar, suburban-sprouting 1950s. If she's right — and evidence is stacking up on her side — reproductive-age women may become the central focus of efforts to reverse America's fat problem. The obesity epidemic has multiple causes, Sothern acknowledges. Food has changed in the last five decades. Americans have become much more sedentary. But she thinks that obesity rates soared just when they did — in the 1980s — because a generation of young women decades earlier smoked, spurned breast-feeding and restricted their weight during numerous, closely spaced pregnancies.

Fast-food Restaurants Contain at Least Some Healthful Items for Hungry Travelers

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

During a recent car trip to Florida with my kids, we were pressed for time and only made pit stops directly off the highway. This got me to wondering, as I look ahead to more long road trips this holiday season, whether it’s possible to eat healthfully if your main resource is fast-food establishments. The answer is yes, though it’s not always easy, says Baltimore dietitian Angela Ginn.

Schools Try to Curb Childhood Obesity

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Lined up in the cafeteria at Blue Ridge School, two dozen or so students attempt to imitate the high-energy movements of Zumba instructor Natalie Rogers. In another wing of the school, a group of second-graders gets a lesson in proper hand-washing techniques from students in newly formed health care classes at Morris Innovative High School. Such mini-stations —16 of them in all — were coordinated for Blue Ridge’s first school-wide health fair last week. The fair is just one example of many ways in which Georgia schools are working to place more emphasis on health and wellness programs since 37.7 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 in Georgia are considered obese, according to a 2009 study by several national organizations, including the Childhood Obesity Action Network.

Obesity Linked to Lower Paychecks

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Obese Americans have smaller paychecks than those who aren't overweight, and this difference is especially strong among women, a new study finds. The analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth revealed that in 2004, overall average annual incomes were $8,666 less for obese women and $4,772 less for obese men compared with normal weight workers.

For Black Girls, Lack of Exercise Heightens Obesity Risk

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

About half of African-American women in the U.S. are obese, compared to 30 percent of white women. Black women not only carry more weight, but they start piling on extra pounds years before their white counterparts. So when does it begin, this excess and unhealthful weight? Research suggests the problem starts early, and it may have a lot to do with when girls give up regular exercise.

Editor's Note: Shiriki Kumanyika, interviewed in this story, is the director of the African American Collaborative Obesity Research Network, a grantee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Making a Difference: Goochland Farmers Help Residents in 'Food Deserts'

webmail@rwjf.org — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Over the past two years, Dominic Barrett and Steve Miles have transformed a fertile piece of Goochland County soil into a source of produce, education and inspiration for low-income, inner-city families.

Fast-Food Outlet Stirs Concerns in a Mecca of Healthy Living

webmail@rwjf.org — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Last week, when the City Council approved Loma Linda’s first McDonald’s restaurant, many residents bemoaned the decision, worrying that the officials were jeopardizing the city’s reputation as a paragon of healthy lifestyles.

'Fit for Kids' Grants Go to Food Bank Freezers, Batavia School Walking Routes

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Making Kane County Fit for Kids Funders Consortium announced the award of 11 grants going to local agencies and community groups in an effort to fight childhood obesity. The grants range from $1,200 to $10,000 and will help fund a variety of programs designed to promote active lifestyles and to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Teens Who See Calorie Info. Buy Fewer Sugary Drinks

webmail@rwjf.org — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Research published Thursday in the American Journal of Public Health shows that when teens -- in this study, black teens shopping in corner convenience stores in low-income areas in Baltimore -- see signs alerting them to the caloric impact of sugar-sweetened beverages (including soda, fruit juice, energy drinks and other sugary sips), some of them choose less-caloric options.

Editor’s Note: This study was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through its national program Healthy Eating Research.

Lawmakers Want Cost-Benefit Analysis on Child Food Marketing Restrictions

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

A long-delayed Obama administration proposal that would restrict the types of foods and drinks that are marketed to children suffered another setback Thursday when Capitol Hill demanded a cost-benefit analysis. An inter-agency working group was supposed to finalize the proposal more than a year and a half ago. But strong push back from the food and beverage industry forced deeper deliberation of the initiative and several delays.

Obesity Rate Falls for New York Schoolchildren

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

The number of obese New York City schoolchildren fell by 5.5 percent over five years, federal and city officials said Thursday, offering a glimmer of optimism about one of the country’s intractable health scourges. The decline, documented by annual fitness exams given to most of the city’s kindergarten through eighth-grade students, was the biggest reported by any large city… [health commissioner Thomas A.] Farley attributed the progress partly to the city’s aggressive advertising campaign against sugary sodas, which he said may have altered what parents were providing to their children. The city has also tried to add healthier options to school lunch menus, enacted strict rules on the calorie and sugar content of snacks and drinks in school vending machines, and even put limits on bake sales, a move that caused some grumbling.

More Local, Healthy Food Needed in Schools, State Panel Says

webmail@rwjf.org — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

40 guests at [a state panel] included growers, suppliers, school nutrition officials and health educators. After feasting on a meal of mostly Florida ingredients — which Putnam insisted could be prepared for the cost of a school lunch (about $3) — they discussed obstacles to serving local and healthy food.

Montclair Schools Encourage Kids to Exercise

webmail@rwjf.org — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

For… parents who have campaigned for healthier lunch choices in the Montclair School District's 11 schools, exercise is an important part of good nutrition. They fear that all the recent work done to improve school lunches by offering students low-fat foods along with fresh fruits and vegetables could be undone if youngsters maintain a sedentary lifestyle. It is one of the reasons why parents have joined with teachers at Bullock and other schools to get youngsters out in the playgrounds and play, run or just walk around.

Flint's Washington Elementary Gets $331,000 in Federal Cash to Fix Sidewalks, Make Walks Safer for Students

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Walking to school is about to get easier around Flint's Washington Elementary School, one of 10 schools in Michigan to receive federal grants to pay for safety improvements. Washington will receive more than $331,000 to install sidewalks and crosswalks on Ohio, Missouri, Arlington, Franklin, and Vernon avenues, along with pedestrian countdown signals at Vernon Avenue and Davison Road, according to a news release from the state Department of Transportation.

Web Site to Promote Food Stamp Reform

webmail@rwjf.org — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, in collaboration with the Harvard School of Public Health, announced www.SNAPtoHealth.org to help develop strategies to promote health and prevent obesity in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the Food Stamps Program.

Kane Groups Get Grants to Combat Obesity in Kids

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Eleven Kane County agencies and community groups will receive additional funding to battle childhood obesity and promote healthier lifestyles for children. The Healthy Living Council of Aurora, Northern Illinois Food Bank, the Elgin Harvest Market and the Batavia School District are among the recipients of the grants, issued by the Kane County Fit For Kids Funders Consortium. The grants range from $1,200 to $10,000.

Food Giants Fight Proposed Nutrition Guidelines

webmail@rwjf.org — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

An effort by four federal agencies to limit marketing of junk food to children has provoked a fight between the packaged food industry and public health groups as intense as the cigarette wars of the 1980s. The agency guidelines, ordered by Congress in 2009, are due this month after a 1 1/2-year delay. They will be scaled back after a ferocious lobbying campaign by food manufacturers who fear that Twinkies are fast becoming the next tobacco.

Healthy Vending Machines Come to Area

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

A vending-machine company that sells fruits and vegetables instead of cookies and chips is currently installing devices in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.

Schools Building More Physical Activity into Programs

webmail@rwjf.org — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Tuscarawas Central Catholic Elementary is just one of several schools in Tuscarawas County that are instituting new programs to combat the growing problem of childhood obesity and physically inactive lifestyles.

Nemours Expands Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative

webmail@rwjf.org — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Winter Park Health Foundation has approved a $50,000 grant for Nemours Children’s Hospital to launch a child care obesity prevention initiative in Eatonville, Maitland and Winter Park. The goal is to help child care providers teach pre-schoolers about nutritious eating and how to be physically active in order to establish healthy habits for the rest of their lives.

Pasadena's 'Food Desert' Island