Foundation will spend $500 million to fight childhood obesity
April 4, 2007
Efforts will capitalize on steps taken by school districts and government.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation plans to spend more than $500 million over the next five years to reverse the increase in childhood obesity. It is one of the largest public health initiatives ever tried by a private philanthropy. The foundation intends to capitalize on and enhance efforts by the food industry and school districts and governments. Several states have mandated changes in school menus, increased physical education requirements and begun reporting students’ body mass index scores to parents.