Thank you for your participation in "Let’s End the Childhood Obesity Epidemic," our 2009 webinar series focused on childhood obesity research, advocacy, and current hot topics in the field.
Archive of Past Sessions
This webinar took place on December 17, 2009
Is it Working? What Every Health Advocate should know about Evaluating Policy and Environmental Change
Developing research suggests that the environments our children live in have a profound impact on the foods they eat and the amount of physical activity they get. Influencing the policies that impact these environments is a crucial step in preventing and reversing the childhood obesity epidemic. But how do we know if the policies are working for all children, especially those who are most vulnerable? Evaluation is a key part of any public health effort—and this webinar will provide participants with information and tools for evaluating policy change at the district, local, and state level.
Featured Speakers:
- Dr. Laura K. Brennan, President and CEO of Transtria; and Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science and Health Education in the Department of Community Health, Saint Louis University School of Public Health. (powerpoint)
- Dr. Jamie F. Chriqui, Senior Research Scientist, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago (powerpoint)
- Mildred Thompson, Deputy Director, RWJF Center; and Director of the PolicyLink Center for Health and Place (moderator)
This webinar took place on December 10, 2009
Part II: Intervening Early -- Childcare as an Untapped Setting for Preventing Childhood Obesity
On December 10 the RWJF Center will host a webinar on a newly released study evaluating how states are doing in terms of regulating their childcare settings, and insight into research that is being done focusing on creating more active environments for children in childcare settings.
This session is a follow up to the October 22 webinar on childcare settings and childhood obesity prevention which covered policy change opportunities at the local, state, and federal level to influence childhood obesity rates.
Featured speakers:
Dr. Sara Benjamin, Assistant Professor, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center and Duke Global Health Institute,
Duke University
Dr. Jim F. Sallis, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University; and Director for Active Living Research
Joyal Mulheron, Program Director, Public Health, National Governors Association
Dr. Melanie Tervalon, Associate Director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity, and Associate Director for PolicyLink(moderator)
This webinar took place on December 3, 2009
Engaging Youth in Childhood Obesity Prevention
In the history of our country, youth have been involved in creating social change and influencing the health of our society. Their influence extends beyond their peers, to their parents, communities, and elected officials. A crucial aspect of childhood obesity prevention, this webinar will provide examples of projects that involve youth empowerment and engagement and a youth representative from the movement.
Featured Speakers:
- Kimberly Perry, Kid's Movement Director, Alliance for a Healthier Generation (powerpoint)
- Katie Spears, Healthy Vessels Project Coordinator, Youth Empowered Solutions (powerpoint)
- Ryan Snell, Legislative Affairs Chair, Legislative Youth Advisory Council (powerpoint)
- Genevieve Polk, Technical Assistance Team Lead for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity and Senior Associate for PolicyLink (moderator)
This webinar took place on November 12, 2009
Getting Back in Balance: Influencing Policy and Environmental Factors to Increase Children’s Physical Activity Levels and Consumption of Nutritious Foods
The energy balance equation describes the relationship between what we consume (food and drink) and the energy we use in physical activity. Right now there is an imbalance. Our children are less active and consume more calories. What if all that was needed to balance the scales with a mere 110-165 calories a day? And what if the solution lay with creating policies that would make our children’s communities and schools healthier places? This webinar will discuss the energy balance and policy and environmental changes that can be made to restore the balance.
Featured Speakers:
- Dr. Heidi Michels Blanck, Commander, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, Nutrition Branch, Team Lead, Research and Surveillance
- Dr. Russ Pate, Professor, Associate Vice President for Health Sciences, Director, Children's Physical Activity Research Group, University of South Carolina
- Paula Card-Higginson, Deputy Director, RWJF Center; and Associate Director, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (moderator)
This webinar took place on November 5, 2009
Changing the Channel: The Influence of Food Marketing on Childhood Obesity
Advertising influences the choices we make, but what do we do when advertising starts effecting our children's health? To prevent our children from being bombarded by unhealthy food marketing--whether it’s a television commercial, an internet advertisement, or food placement at the supermarket--we must ensure our children are exposed, and have access to, healthy eating options. This session will explore what groups are most heavily targeted by marketers and what public health advocates can do to take the remote out of the marketer's hands and ultimately change the channel.
Featured Speakers:
- Vivica Kraak, Nutrition and Physical Activity Advisor, Save the Children (powerpoint)
- Pamela Weddington, Vice President of Communications, MEE productions (powerpoint)
- Jennifer Harris, Director of Marketing Initiatives, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity (powerpoint)
- Margo Wootan, Director for Nutrition Policy, Center for Science in the Public Interest (powerpoint)
- Mildred Thompson, Deputy Director, RWJF Center; and Director of the PolicyLink Center for Health and Place (moderator)
This webinar took place on October 29, 2009
From the Floor to the Ceiling: What Every Public Health Advocate Should Know About Preemption
This webinar will cover the often controversial topic of preemption. When federal law prevents states and local governments from passing laws on certain topics, state and local advocates may cry foul while regulated businesses sigh with relief. Is the uniformity and predictability that preemption can bring worth the loss of flexibility and creativity? This webinar will explain how preemption works, how to recognize it (even when it's hiding), and what to do if you see it coming your way.
Featured Speakers:
- Samantha Graff, Senior Staff Attorney, Public Health Law & Policy
- Ted Mermin, Advisor to National Policy and Legal Analysis; and Adjunct Faculty at the University of California, Berkeley, Law School
- Cathy Nonas, Director, Physical Activity & Nutrition Programs,
- Thomas G. Merrill, General Counsel, New York City Department of Health & Hygiene
- Paula Card-Higginson, Deputy Director, RWJF Center; and Associate Director, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (moderator)
This webinar took place on October 22, 2009
Intervening Early: Childcare as an untapped setting for Preventing Childhood Obesity
Childcare settings are untapped places for childhood obesity prevention, as there are few uniform standards regarding physical activity and nutrition in effect. This webinar will cover policy change opportunities at the local, state, and federal level to influence childhood obesity rates.
Featured Speakers:
This webinar took place on October 8, 2009
Advocating for Healthier Communities through Transportation Policy: Research and Opportunities
The RWJF Center is pleased to announce a joint webinar with the Convergence Partnership about the connection between transportation, health, and equity.
This webinar will outline the relationship between health and transportation, specifically around access to safe areas for physical activity and necessities such as grocery stores; the Transportation Reauthorization Bill and the potential impact it could have on childhood obesity by improving the communities in which our children live; and the perspective of an advocate working at the local, state and federal level on a program specifically aimed at providing healthy transportation options for children in communities.
Featured Speakers:
This webinar took place on October 1, 2009
"Communities Putting Prevention to Work: Accessing and Implementing ARRA Funds"
The RWJF Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity is adjusting its 12-week webinar series to accommodate a special session to address the recently announced U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initiative--Communities Putting Prevention to Work--which will provide $373 million to support prevention and wellness activities.
Featured Speakers:
This webinar took place on September 24, 2009
"The Face of the Childhood Obesity Epidemic"
The obesity epidemic impacts all races and ethnicities but some populations are disproportionately affected. Both income and race are strongly correlated with obesity prevalence. Seven of the top 10 states with the highest poverty rates also experience the highest rates of obesity. Within equivalent levels of socioeconomic status, race still serves as a determinant of health. Children, as a subgroup, are more racially and ethnically diverse than the nation’s population as a whole, and obesity prevalence rates are highest among children and adolescents of color.
This webinar illustrates research examining how obesity disproportionately affects specific communities, and strategies and insights into policy and environmental changes that may improve the landscape of childhood obesity
Featured Speakers (speaker bios)
- Dr. Melanie Tervalon, Associate Director, RWJF Center (Moderator)
- Dr. Shiriki Kumanyika, Founder, AACORN
- Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, Director, Salud America!
This webinar took place on September 17, 2009
"Making Local Communities Healthier: The RWJF Center Hosts an Expert Discussion on the latest IOM Childhood Obesity Report"
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has just released a report called Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity, that outlines policy opportunities for local policymakers and communities to address the childhood obesity epidemic, with a special emphasis on populations at most risk for obesity. The IOM committee reviewed the published literature, examined reports and toolkits focused on community-based obesity prevention, and heard from experts on the role of local governments in obesity prevention.
This webinar highlights policy recommendations for communities to consider as they seek to address child obesity. Speakers will discuss the key policies as well as other important issues for communities to consider as they work to address childhood obesity.
Featured Speakers
- Dr. Joseph W. Thompson, Director, RWJF Center (Moderator)
- Tracy Fox, President, Food, Nutrition & Policy Consultants
- Mary Story, Professor, University of Minnesota, and Program Director for Healthy Eating Research
- Peggy Beltrone, Cascade County Commissioner, MT
- Adewale Troutman, Director, Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness
This webinar took place on September 10, 2009
Introducing the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity
The RWJF Center, the national organization dedicated to reversing the childhood obesity epidemic by changing public policies and creating healthier environments in schools and communities, will help to shape and coordinate the efforts of policymakers, advocates, and community organizations by identifying and promoting the most promising obesity-prevention strategies and supporting the nationwide movement to improve food and physical activity environments.
This webinar introduces the leadership of the center, our work, and our network of partners dedicated to the goal of reversing the trend of childhood obesity by 2015.
Featured Speakers
- Dr. Joseph W. Thompson, Director, RWJF Center
- Angela Glover Blackwell, Principal Advisor, RWJF Center
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