Media Contact
Chad Spoon, Research Coordinator
Email: scspoon@ucsd.edu
Phone: 619-260-5539
About Us
Active Living Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation® (RWJF), stimulates and supports research to identify environmental factors and policies that influence physical activity for children and families to inform effective childhood obesity prevention strategies, particularly in low-income and racial/ethnic communities at highest risk. Active Living Research wants solid research to be part of the public debate about active living.
Read more about us.
Research Summaries & Briefs
Existing research from the fields of health, planning, and transportation is quite promising. We have summarized conclusions from the existing literature into four subject areas:
- Active Living Research Briefing - Overview
- Designing for Active Recreation Research Summary
- Designing for Active Transportation Research Summary
- Designing to Reduce Childhood Obesity Research Summary
- Designing for Active Living Among Children
- Active Education: Physical Education, Physical Activity, and Academic Performance Brief
Download the research summaries.
Fast Facts
Press Releases
September 7, 2011: "Hey Bobby, Slow Down!" Helicopter Parents Can Impede Child's Ability to Play
June 2, 2011: School Safety Program a Big Success
April 13, 2011: Study Analyzes Health in Poor Neighborhoods
March 3, 2011: Will a Bike Ride a Day Keep the Doctor Away? Researcher says Portland's Bike Paths Will Cut its Health Costs
February 28, 2011: When Bosses Are Exercise Friendly, Workers Get Their Move On
February 22, 2011: Portland's Bike Investments Will Yield Health Care and Fuel Savings
May 3, 2010: National Plan to Support, Encourage Physical Activity Launches
December 7, 2009: Study Shows Head Start Programs Surpass Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Requirements
October 9, 2009: Nutrition Still Not 'A' Grade in U.S. Schools: Studies
September 6, 2009: New Orleans Will Add First New Park Since Katrina
July 28, 2009: Landmark Study Reveals Majority of District Wellness Policies Fail to Provide Healthy School Environment for Kids
July 13, 2009: Health Reform Plans to Emphasize Neighborhood Design
October 7, 2008: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Announces Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
May 27, 2008: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Statement Regarding Release of Estimates of Obesity Prevalence Among U.S. Children and Teens
May 27, 2008: Prevalence of Obesity Among U.S. Children and Teens Does Not Increase
May 15, 2008: Active Living Research sponsored the Biking Your Way to a Healthier Community congressional briefing, which was co-hosted by the Congressional Bike Caucus and the Congressional Fitness Caucus. Three ALR grantees, Garry Young, PhD, Jennifer Dill, PhD, and Angie Cradock, ScD spoke on various aspects of bicycling and transportation policy. In attendance and also speaking were Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Bike Caucus. A complete summary of the briefing, including policy points, are available.
March 25, 2008: Children in Low-Income Communities Have Few Opportunities to be Physically Active [pdf]
March 1, 2008: Where Connections Count
February 1, 2008: Active Living for Rural Youth Research & Policy Brief
December 9, 2007: 'Complete Streets' Gain National Voice
October 29, 2007: America's Most Sedentary Cities
June 13, 2007: Integrating Physical Activity into Daily Routines
April 20, 2007: Our Cities, Ourselves: Can Urban Design Keep You from Getting Fat? [pdf]
April 4, 2007: $500 Million Pledged to Fight Childhood Obesity
March 27, 2007: Safe Routes to School National Partnership Announces New State Network Project [pdf]
February 22, 2007: Urban Planners Promote Health with Walkable Communities [video interview and article]
Talk to an Expert
A media referral network of authorities on specific active living topics is available. Feel free to contact these Active Living Research grantees with questions about their research and/or other general items related to active living.
