The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the nation's largest philanthropy devoted to improving health and health care for Americans, has pledged more than $500 million to be used over the next five years in the fight against childhood obesity.

Funds will be used to enhance access to affordable healthy foods in underserved low-income communities, provide greater opportunity for physical activity in schools and communities, and pay for child obesity research. One recent research study funded by the RWJF examined a three-year Arkansas initiative to combat obesity. According to the RWJF study, Arkansas, which has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity, has been able to halt this alarming trend by taking measures in the schools, such as recording children's BMI and reporting this each year to parents, along with tips for good nutrition and appropriate exercise.

Labels: funding, healthy_eating, research