National Policy and Legal Analysis Network To Prevent Childhood Obesity

01/09/2017

Thank you for supporting NPLAN these past few years! We are moving all of our announcements to our main ChangeLab Solutions page. To keep following our work and see where we’re headed, like the ChangeLab Solutions page.

03/04/2016

Research studies show exposure to certain types of natural environments can restore our our ability to pay attention and reduce our mental fatigue.

Chicago researchers find that students had lower stress and better attention levels when they had views of trees and grass—and a chance to enjoy them.

01/06/2016

In California and across the country, we see cities and towns making strides to improve access to fresh, affordable food. What efforts are gaining momentum in your community?

Jennifer Freese and her husband lived across from Franklin Bros. Market in West Berkeley for more than a decade and a half before its longtime...

10/28/2015

What happens when kids cut back on their sugar intake? A new study found health improvements after just 10 days.

Obese children who cut back on their sugar intake see improvements in their blood pressure, cholesterol readings and other markers of health after just 10 days, a rigorous new study found.

10/21/2015

Do the schools in your community buy local food for students?

Kids in America's schools are eating more local food, although it makes up only a small part of the average meal. Advocates say local food doesn't have to cost more, but buying it does take more time.

10/20/2015

"New research suggests that plugging food access holes with big box stores may not lead to healthier habits. According to a study just published online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Americans' junk food calories increasingly come from big box stores rather than traditional grocers."

Americans' junk food calories increasingly come from big box and convenience stores rather than traditional grocers, a study finds. And researchers say this trend is a public health concern.

10/15/2015

To help kids eat better, we need to think about, and address, all the environmental factors that hinder them. One way to do that is by limiting unhealthy ads in schools. Check out our latest MomsRising.org blog post!

When I was a kid, I didn’t know when companies were trying to sell me something. I’m not unique; most kids don’t understand the intent of advertising.

09/15/2015

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, so take this opportunity to check out these policy strategies for helping kids lead healthier lives!

Childhood obesity remains a serious public health concern in the United States. Today, more than 23 million children and adolescents nationwide – nearly one in three young people – are either obese or overweight, putting them at higher risk for serious, even life-threatening health problems. These h…

09/02/2015

D.C. schools have a new goal: to teach every second grader in the city’s school system how to ride a bike.

“Every kid should know how to ride a bike,” Kenyon says. “It’s a great way not only to get to school, but to exercise, and to see your city. It promotes independence.”

Starting this fall, all second graders in D.C. public schools will learn to ride in PE class.

08/31/2015

Last week, a federal report showed that the nutritional profile of school meals in the United States had improved substantially since higher government standards went into effect in 2012!

Substantially more schools are offering two or more fruits and two or more vegetables than in 2000, according to federal data.