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.

School Policies and Practices to Improve Health and Prevent Obesity

August 13, 2012 | Report

National Secondary School Survey Results

Evaluation of the Healthy Schools Program

March 1, 2012 | Journal Article

This study evaluates interim progress in schools receiving hands-on training from the Healthy Schools Program, the nation's largest school-based program aimed at preventing childhood obesity.

Do Short Physical Activity Breaks in Classrooms Work?

February 28, 2013 | Issue Brief

With budget pressures increasing and cuts being made to physical education, schools are finding ways to help kids be active in class. This brief summarizes research regarding how classroom breaks can help young people be active and healthy.

Healthy Schools Program Shows Impact

October 22, 2012 | Feature

The 2012 Healthy Schools Program forum honored 251 schools for their achievements and released results from a four-year evaluation of the program.

Philadelphia School District Reports Progress in Reducing Childhood Obesity Rates

September 6, 2012 | Commentary/News Release/Journal Article/Story

Largest declines seen among African American boys and Hispanic girls.

Daily P.E. Could Increase Youth Physical Activity by 23 Minutes per Day, According to New Study

January 17, 2013 | News Release

Requiring daily physical education in school could help young people be active for 23 minutes per day, according to a new study.

Observations of Drinking Water Access in School Food Service Areas Before Implementation of Federal and State School Water Policy, California, 2011

July 1, 2012 | Journal Article

Recent California legislation requires food service areas (FSAs) in school to provide free drinking water to students. This legislation aims to address the contribution of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to rising obesity rates by ensuring the avai ...

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 ...

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 ...