Author(s): The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Published: October 13, 2021
Report Intro/Brief:
“Recent studies confirm the surge in childhood obesity predicted by experts a year ago, documenting rising rates during the pandemic, with the largest increase among children younger than age 12. The latest national data continue to show significant and persistent disparities, with rates of obesity highest among children of color and children from families with low incomes.
This is an urgent call to action for leaders at all levels and across all sectors.
Childhood obesity is a symptom of larger challenges families face in their communities and a sign that our nation’s policies are failing our kids.
Millions of families struggle with food insecurity, meaning they do not have consistent access to enough food to live a healthy life. Our nation’s safety net is fragile, outdated, and out of reach for millions of eligible kids and caregivers. Safe, affordable housing is scarce, forcing families to make hard choices about how to spend limited resources. And underlying all of these challenges is the structural racism that has been embedded in our policies and practices for decades.
The pandemic exacerbated these issues. It has disrupted and stressed the systems that affect every aspect of our daily lives—economic, education, healthcare, food, housing— resulting in profound consequences for the health and well-being of children and families.
To build a healthier nation for the next generation, we must work to dismantle structural racism and reform our policies.“
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