The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released Walking and Biking to School, Physical Activity and Health Outcomes, which summarizes research on active transport to school, physical activity levels and health outcomes.  It also explores the factors that influence walking and biking to school, including the impact of the Safe Routes to School programs.   

Commissioned by the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Health Disparities, and co-authored by Dr. Tony Iton, Director of the Alameda County Public Health Department, A Time of Opportunity: Local Solutions to Reduce Inequities in Health and Safety presents a synthesis of state and local efforts, and identifies recommendations on how to strengthen communities, enhance health care services to underserved communities, and improve the public health and health care systems.  

In an effort to increase their access to healthy food options, students from Jefferson High School in Daly City advocated to City Council members on May 11th to put a ban on new fast food establishments around their school.  The students are part of the Environment Club and Project Heart at Jefferson Union High School.  Click here to view a newscast of the City Council presentation from KTVU Channel 2.  Click here to learn more about Project Heart and view their video "Life in the Fast Food Lane."   

To combat the obesity epidemic, Rudd Center Director Kelly D. Brownell, PhD, and New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, advocated taxing sugared beverages in the April 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Click here to view the article.  Click here to view a newscast from ABC News about the sugared beverage tax. 

A study published in Pediatrics finds that regular recess improves student behavior and academic performance. 

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awards $4.8 million to combat childhood obesity.