RWJF awards nearly $2M in grants to address childhood obesity epidemic

Seven organizations representing policy-makers from across the country have received a total of nearly $2 million in grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to help communities increase children's access to affordable healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity.

The grants were awarded through Leadership for Healthy Communities, an RWJF national program that assists state and local leaders in their efforts to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic.

With nearly a third of children and adolescents either overweight or obese in this country, more than 23 million young people are at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other serious chronic diseases. The toll on an already overburdened health care system is increasing exponentially. Studies estimate that the obesity epidemic is already costing the nation more than $147 billion annually in direct medical expenses.

These new grants will support initiatives to educate legislators, mayors, health directors, school boards and other officials who are key to strong obesity-prevention policies being implemented in states, counties and towns.  The awards come one week after First Lady Michelle Obama called on all Americans, including policy-makers at all levels, to join her Let's Move Campaign to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic.

"Because of their influence in shaping the environments in which children live, learn and play, elected and appointed officials are critical partners in efforts to prevent childhood obesity," said Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, Ph.D., director of Leadership for Healthy Communities. "These seven organizations have an impressive record of working with policy-makers to successfully implement strategies that support the health of children and their families."  

The organizations will concentrate on 15 states in the Southern region, where obesity rates are among the nation's highest. The groups already have identified some of the strategies they will seek to advance through their efforts with government leaders there.  Those include:

• altering local land-use and open-space policies so that children and teens have better access to parks and more options for recreation;
• creating and implementing strong local school wellness policies to ensure that children have easy access to affordable healthy foods in cafeterias and vending machines;
• expanding opportunities for students to be active for at least 30 minutes daily by including physical education as a core requirement in school curriculums;
• creating safe routes for children to walk and bike to school; and
• supporting farmers' markets, community gardens and the procurement of locally grown foods for schools and communities.

"While everyone has a role to play in combating childhood obesity, policy-makers are in a unique position to bring about the changes our society needs to succeed," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of the Foundation. "That's why the work of Leadership for Healthy Communities is so important."

The organizations receiving RWJF grants of approximately $300,000 include:

• Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
• National Association of County and City Health Officials
• National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund
• National Association of State Boards of Education
• National Conference of State Legislatures
• National Congress of American Indians
• National League of Cities Institute.  

Leadership for Healthy Communities has previously worked with several of the groups and seen notable progress at state and local levels. For instance:

• In 2005, Barbara Fish, Wellness Committee Chairwoman of the West Virginia State Board of Education, helped establish statewide nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold to students during school. In 2008, she led the revision of those standards to conform to new recommendations from the Institute of Medicine. Fish is a member of the National Association of State Boards of Education.
• In 2007, Mayor Otis Johnson of Savannah, Ga., launched the Healthy Savannah 2012 initiative. To date it has worked to improve the walkability of school neighborhoods and students' access to healthy foods. It also will track students' academic performance and body mass index (BMI) to try to measure the initiative's effectiveness. Johnson is a member of the National League of Cities.
• Mayor Steven Veres of San Fernando, Calif., has led the development of the city's first new park in 30 years. He also spearheaded local pedestrian improvements and the construction of a new community pool and recreation center. Veres is a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

"Leadership for Healthy Communities aims to usher in a new era for young people, one in which healthy foods and the opportunity for safe physical activity are available to all," Rockeymoore Cummings said. "For the future of our children -- and of our country -- we must act with urgency to inspire and ultimately achieve deep and abiding change."