The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) offers outstanding resources in the form of news digests—weekly summaries of key articles from major newspapers, magazines, and research journals.

RWJF News Digest: Childhood Obesity

Here is this week’s digest of key articles on the topic of Childhood Obesity. The digest is provided as a free service of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and is edited and compiled by The Advisory Board.

Study Indicates Produce Too Costly for Low-Income Families
A study published in the November Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggests that the cost of fresh produce is a major barrier to fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income families, United Press International reports.

Study Links Sleep Deficiencies to Obesity Risk Among Children
A study in the November Pediatrics suggests that children who get less sleep may be at increased risk for childhood obesity, the Associated Press reports.

Study Shows Link Between Mother’s Body Mass Index, Child’s Body Fat
A study in the October Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism suggests that mothers who have a high body mass index (BMI) before or during pregnancy are more likely to have children with a higher fat mass index (FMI), Reuters reports.

Initiative Encourages Physicians to Prescribe Exercise
The American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Sports Medicine on Monday launched the “Exercise is Medicine” initiative, which calls on physicians to prescribe exercise to their patients, AHA News Now reports.

Campaign Calls on Government Leaders Worldwide to Clamp Down on Soft Drink Sales
The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is spearheading a global campaign that seeks to stem childhood obesity by reducing soft drink sales, Marketing Daily reports.

Toolkit to Help Providers Curb Obesity Among Hawaiian Children
The Hawaii chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics this week will unveil a new pediatric obesity prevention toolkit designed to help health professionals teach children and parents healthy lifestyle habits, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin reports.

Insurer Trains West Virginia Physicians to Diagnose Childhood Obesity
UniCare, West Virginia’s largest provider of Medicaid coverage, launched a statewide physician training program designed to improve the detection and prevention of childhood obesity, the Associated Press reports.

North Carolina Research Center to Study Wellness Interventions
The University of North Carolina-Asheville has received a $1 million gift from The Cliffs Communities for the planned North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness, the Asheville Citizen-Times

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