Public health experts spotted the first signs of trouble in the 1980s. After hovering in the single digits for more than a generation, childhood obesity rates suddenly spiked—first doubling, then tripling, then even quadrupling among some age groups. By 2000, nearly one-third of children in the United States were obese or overweight.
Informed by this research, United States’ largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), committed $500 million toward reversing the childhood obesity epidemic, with the goal of success by 2015.
The Camden City Garden Club’s Community Gardening program has been supported by RWJF since 2009, as the nation has taken critical steps toward reversing the childhood obesity epidemic. In addition, many other high-profile leaders have taken up the cause, such as celebrities, chefs, government officials, and of course the First Lady of the United States.
Read More about the RWJF Initiative, Childhood Obesity: Reversing an Epidemic.
Study found that Camden, NJ Obesity Rates are higher than most US counterparts.
New Jersey Childhood Obesity Study ~ Funded under New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids Study. Study Highlights from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Resources DOWNLOAD FULL STUDY
