GRANTWATCH: Childhood Obesity On The Agenda
April 26th, 2007
by
Lee-Lee Prina
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The latest edition of Health Affairs’ GrantWatch [free access], highlights the new announcement by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) that “it will commit at least $500 million over the next five years” to work on the problem of childhood obesity. Its “goal is to reverse” the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States by 2015. Examples of how the foundation plans to use this funding include projects to improve “access to affordable healthy foods and opportunities for safe physical activity” and to “help states and communities coordinate their efforts, advocate for change, and evaluate impact.” Also, the RWJF will continue to “encourage food and beverage companies to offer healthier products and change their marketing practices.” It will do that through such efforts as the Healthy Schools Program.
In the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s new blog called “Give and Take,” Ian Wilhelm rounded up perspectives on the RWJF’s expanded anti-obesity effort from two other blogs and encouraged others to join in the debate. One blog, called “Philanthropy 2173,” inquired “what will be the unintended consequences—if the [RWJF’s] effort is successful in the U.S.—for other parts of the globe, other U.S. populations, other industries?” Read what prompted blogger Lucy Bernholz’s question.
For more on the RWJF funding announcement and other resources on childhood obesity, see Health Affairs’ GrantWatch. This round-up of health care philanthropy is published twice a month online and bimonthly in the print journal. You can sign up to receive an email alert when new GrantWatch content is posted.
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