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.

Preventing Obesity Among Preschool Children

October 1, 2011 | Report

This research synthesis by two Robert Wood Johnson Foundation national programs highlights strategies for preventing obesity among preschool children.

Addressing Childhood Obesity by Studying Preschool Children

May 31, 2011 | Story

Studying what preschoolers in child care centers in California are eating and drinking - and the quality of food and beverages served.

Barriers to Obesity Prevention in Head Start

March 1, 2010 | Journal Article

As the nation's largest federally-funded early childhood education program, Head Start has enormous potential to reach a population of children at high risk for obesity.

Study Shows Head Start Programs Surpass Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Requirements

December 6, 2009 | News Release

Programs obtaining meals through school districts report fewer healthy eating practices.

Evaluating the Impact of New Beverage Nutrition Standards in Licensed Childcare in California

March 1, 2013 | Report/Evaluation

California’s Healthy Beverages in Childcare Act was implemented in January 2012 to regulate beverages in licensed childcare centers. This report measures the impact of the policy on childcare practices.

Changing WIC Changes What Children Eat

January 1, 2013 | Journal Article

Changes in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Healthy Lifestyle Initiative saw improved health for young children participating in the New York State (NYS) WIC program: breastfeeding mothers and mothers waiting to feed infants solid foods increased; screen time and overall overweight and obesity decreased among children in NYS under four years of age.

Fruit and Vegetable Availability and Selection

October 1, 2012 | Journal Article

Expansion of WIC foods was associated with small positive externalities on the food environment.

Texas Childhood Obesity Prevention Policy Evaluation (T-COPPE)

September 1, 2011 | Report/Evaluation

This brief provides select preliminary research results, preliminary analyses, and policy implications for the implementation of the national Safe Routes to School program in Texas.

Evaluation of School and Childcare Sector Strategies in Delaware

September 27, 2012 | Evaluation

In 2007, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded Nemours Health and Prevention Services a grant to monitor implementation of healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices in schools and child-care settings.

New Jersey Childhood Obesity Study

March 19, 2010 | Report

This study may provide potential baseline data for evaluating children's physical and nutritional health in New Jersey.