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A Project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Data
National Obesity Monitor
National childhood obesity rate and adult obesity rate data. The feature also illustrate trends over time, including by age group, sex, and race and ethnicity, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Adults
39.5%
Adult obesity rates now exceed 35% in 16 states. Mississippi has the highest rate, 39.7%.
10-17 Year Olds
16.2%
The latest National Survey of Children’s Health finds that 16.2% of U.S. youth ages 10 to 17 have obesity.
2-4 Year Olds
14.4%
The rate of obesity declined from 15.9% in 2010 to 14.4% in 2018 among 2- to 4-year-olds enrolled in WIC
High School Students
15.5%
15.5% of U.S. high school students have obesity, according to the latest data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.
Policies
Child Nutrition Policies
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
Dietary Guidelines
Food Marketing to Children
Head Start and Early Head Start
Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Standards in Early Care and Education
Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Menu Labeling
Nutrition Facts Labeling
Physical Education and Physical Activity in Schools
Preemption
Safe Routes to School
School Meals and Snacks
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program
States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Stories
WIC Steps Up During the Infant Formula Shortage and Beyond
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) has been key to helping families during the infant formula crisis. We spoke with Brian Dittmeier, senior director of public policy at the National WIC Association, to discuss how WIC has supported families during crises.
Will School Meals for All End This Summer?
Congress passing the Keep Kids Fed Act is a critical step to help prevent summer hunger. But many children may be at risk of not receiving healthy meals starting this school year.
Re-envisioning our Food System for Healthier Kids & a Healthier Climate
Climate change affects more than just the weather. Research shows it's impacting our health, food supply, personal safety, housing and more. Climate change impacts our food systems and threatens our ability to grow food through droughts, floods and heat.
Local Perspectives: Community Leaders Call For School Meals For All At No Charge
Read excerpts from three opinion-editorials authored by state community leaders who explain the importance of state policymakers taking action to support school meals for all at no charge.
Nutrition Directors Make the Case: School Meals for All!
Universal school meals have been key to supporting nutrition service directors’ efforts to feed families facing food insecurity. If the USDA waivers that allow for school meals free of charge end, there could be a devastating rise in school lunch debt.
How to Help States Administer SNAP: Short Term and Beyond
For the state staff who administer SNAP, the pandemic has created a host of new challenges. From online access barriers to surges in enrollment, states pivoted again and again to meet the needs of participating families.
Special Reports
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SNAP kept around 3.6 million people—including 1.5 million children—out of poverty in 2016.