Which federal policies are most effective for reducing childhood obesity? According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, two of the top policies are: 1. a penny-per-ounce ($0.01/ounce) tax on sugar sweetened beverages (soda tax); and 2. 60 minutes of daily after school physical activity for children. Through a microsimulation analysis, researchers were able to project the long-term impact of three federal policies, including the two named above, in addition to a policy that would ban fast food commercials on TV. While all three policies have the potential to reduce childhood obesity, the penny-per-ounce policy was deemed to have the highest impact. Not only would a soda tax reduce obesity by an estimated 2.4 percentage points ...
The national childhood obesity rate has leveled off, but rates are still far too high – and racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities persist with more than 39% of Latino kids overweight or obese. What needs to happen to show bigger results, faster? Join leaders from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Heart Association, City of Philadelphia Government, UCSF School of Medicine, & AcademyHealth for a TEDMED Great Challenges Hangout about childhood obesity, and how we can all make sure ALL children can grow up at a healthy weight. How do we make sure all children can grow up at a healthy weight? What are some of the underlying environmental and societal causes that must be addressed? What could corporate, community and policy leaders do to further address this critical ...
Learn more about childhood obesity prevention in rural communities from this toolkit. The toolkit provides resources and best practices for introducing environmental and systems changes in each one of the following areas: Early Care & Education
Schools
Out-of-School Time
Other Community Initiatives
Health Care Access the Childhood Obesity Prevention Strategies in Rural Communities toolkit here. ...
While childhood obesity rates have leveled off in some groups, the fact remains that Latino childhood obesity rates remain high according to a factsheet from the Leadership for Healthy Communities. “Comprehensive solutions, which include increasing access to affordable healthy foods in communities and schools, limiting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages, addressing neighborhood safety, and improving the built environment, are necessary to prevent childhood obesity and safeguard the health of Latino children and adolescents,” the fact sheet concludes. Learn more and access the fact sheet here. ...
While obesity rates may be leveling off for some, rates among Latino youth remain significantly high, according to a new fact sheet. The fact sheet, from Leadership for Healthy Communities, indicates that Latino children and adolescents are more likely to be overweight and obese than their White peers, due to limited availability of healthy foods and safe recreational facilities that contribute to unhealthy environments for Latino families. Factors such as acculturation and unhealthy food and beverage marketing play a role in higher rates of overweight and obesity among Latino youths. “Comprehensive solutions, which include increasing access to affordable healthy foods in communities and schools, limiting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages, addressing neighborhood ...
While obesity rates may be leveling off for some, rates among Latino youth remain significantly high, according to a new fact sheet. The fact sheet, from Leadership for Healthy Communities, indicates that Latino children and adolescents are more likely to be overweight and obese than their White peers, due to limited availability of healthy foods and safe recreational facilities that contribute to unhealthy environments for Latino families. Factors such as acculturation and unhealthy food and beverage marketing play a role in higher rates of overweight and obesity among Latino youths. "Comprehensive solutions, which include increasing access to affordable healthy foods in communities and schools, limiting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages, addressing neighborhood ...
Are you interested in making a difference in the life of a child? If so, then learning about effective policies and programs for childhood obesity prevention can be the ticket to better health in you community. In order to equip you with the tools you need to get started, the Texas Pediatric Society is hosting the "Be Our Voice Advocacy Training," on Saturday May 17, 2014 from 8:30am-4:30 pm at the Texas Medical Association Building in Austin, Texas. Teams of 3-5 community members with at least one health professional (community healthy worker, social worker, researcher, clinician) are invited to register by April 21, 2014. Groups that are selected will participate for free. The training will discuss topics such as: Partnerships, collaboration, and the obesity prevention call ...
On Wednesday March 19, 2014, members of a statewide task force that had been studying the rise in childhood obesity in North Carolina came together with other heath care professionals, policy and public health experts, child care providers and parents to go over the task force’s final report, which includes detailed recommendations for how to tackle the problem. The summit was the first public opportunity to discuss the 169-page “Promoting Healthy Weight for Young Children: A Blueprint for Preventing Early Childhood Obesity in North Carolina.” The blueprint was the culmination of two years of work by the N.C. Institute of Medicine’s Task Force on Early Childhood Obesity. It was created in collaboration with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation and the ...
The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) is bringing together groups from the private, public and non-profit sectors to come up with solutions to the nation's childhood obesity epidemic. In a recent meeting which took place during March 2014, at the PHA's annual summit eight new organizations, including four hospital systems, announced their commitment to battling childhood obesity. FirstBIKE, a company that produces training bikes for children ages 2-5, committed to donating at least 1,300 bikes a year to YMCAs across the nation for the next three years. Knowledge Universe, the largest private early childhood education provider, agreed to implement policies that reflect healthy lifestyle choices in 95% of their early childhood centers over the next three years. Other groups ...
