In 2012, the fast-food industry spent $4.6 billion to advertise mostly unhealthy products—and children and teens remained key audiences for that advertising. Fast Food FACTS 2013 shows that restaurants still have a long way to go to promote only healthier fast-food options to kids.
What's for lunch in American schools? Recently updated school meal standards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture call on schools to offer more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and to serve only fat-free and low-fat milk. Several recent announcements show that schools across the country are finding success serving healthier meals.
After three decades of increases, adult obesity rates remained level in every state except for one in the past year. Thirteen states now have adult obesity rates above 30 percent, 41 states have rates of at least 25 percent, and every state is above 20 percent, according to the report.
Fast-food companies emphasize toy giveaways and movie tie-ins when marketing to kids on television, which suggests industry is not abiding by its own pledges regarding child-directed marketing.
RWJF President and CEO Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, calls the U.S. Department of Agriculture's updated standards "a momentous step toward a healthier future for millions of children."
When people eat fast food, they consume more calories than they realize, but menu labels can help people choose lower-calorie options.
After decades of unrelenting increases in rates of childhood obesity, cities, counties, and states that are taking major steps to address the childhood obesity epidemic are starting to see signs of progress.
Philadelphia is making strong progress in the fight against childhood obesity. Under the leadership of Mayor Michael A. Nutter, with the support of Get Healthy Philly and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and by working with schools, businesses, and other partners, the city has become a healthier place for children and families. These videos tell the story.
Our goal is to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015 by improving access to affordable healthy foods and increasing opportunities for physical activity in schools and communities across the nation.
Research on food, activity, and children's health, and updates on RWJF's efforts to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic.
Ensure that all foods and beverages served and sold in schools meet or exceed the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
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Increase access to high-quality, affordable foods through new or improved grocery stores and healthier corner stores and bodegas.
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Increase the time, intensity and duration of physical activity during the school day and out-of-school programs.
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Increase physical activity by improving the built environment in communities.
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Use pricing strategies—both incentives and disincentives—to promote the purchase of healthier foods.
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Reduce youths' exposure to the marketing of unhealthy foods through regulation, policy and effective industry self-regulation.
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