RWJF to Fund Independent Evaluation of Industry Obesity Effort

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation RWJF) says it will support an independent evaluation of part of an industry effort to help reduce obesity.  A coalition of more than 40 retailers, non-governmental organizations and food and beverage manufacturers announced on Oct. 5 the launch of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF), a national, multi-year effort designed to help reduce obesity—especially childhood obesity—by 2015. The HWCF will promote ways to help people achieve a healthy weight through energy balance. It focuses on three critical areas—the marketplace, the workplace and schools.

RWJF will fund an independent group of scientists who will define the measures that will be used to track progress of the marketplace program and determine whether it is making a significant difference for the nation’s children.