State policymakers are uniquely positioned to serve the needs of both rural and urban communities in their efforts to promote health and reduce childhood obesity. Policies that improve access to healthy foods, support healthy community design and require healthy school initiatives are all ways to make a significant impact on children’s’ health. By creating environments across communities and schools where physical activity and access to healthy foods are the norm, states will decrease both the health costs and financial burden that childhood obesity generates, creating healthier, more vibrant communities for children and families.
There are new funding opportunities available to reduce and prevent childhood obesity. Two of these opportunities are aimed at research that supports the reduction and prevention of childhood obesity. A federal grant aimed at achieving the long-term outcome of reducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents (ages 9-14 years) is available. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering seven grants of up to $2.5 million each for their Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Eating Research: Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity Program is offering $2.35 million in total program funding in multiple awards to build research on environmental and policy strategies with strong potential to promote healthy eating among children, especially among lower-income and racial and ethnic populations at highest risk for obesity.
To learn about more funding opportunities available, as well as strategies to support states in preventing childhood obesity, please visit our new section on PolicyforResults: Preventing Childhood Obesity.
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