Special Report
From Crisis to Opportunity:
Reforming Our Nation’s Policies to Help All Children Grow Up Healthy
New data show that roughly one in six young people in the United States has obesity. High childhood obesity rates are a warning that our policies are failing our kids. Our new report lifts up solutions for helping all kids have a fair and just opportunity for a healthy life.
Jamie Bussel, senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, talks about how to move forward from the pandemic and what she’s learning that’s shaping the Foundation’s strategy.
Share your ideas for solutions with Jamie
Explore the Data
Childhood obesity continues to be a national epidemic and disparities by race and ethnicity persist. The newest available national data measure obesity rates among young people ages 10-17 for 2019-2020.
16.2%
In 2019-20, 16.2% of youth ages 10 to 17 had obesity.
23.8%
In 2019-20, 23.8% of non-Hispanic Black youth ages 10 to 17 had obesity.
21.4%
In 2019-20, 21.4% of Hispanic youth ages 10 to 17 had obesity.
12.1%
In 2019-20, 12.1% of non-Hispanic White youth ages 10 to 17 had obesity.

Download the Report
The 2021 annual report includes the latest data on childhood obesity rates, policy recommendations from RWJF, expert insights, and stories of action.
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