Latest News and Research
Ages 5-18 Beverage Recommendations
Experts convened by Healthy Eating Research from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Heart Association have developed evidence-based recommendations to guide healthier drink choices for kids ages 5 to 18. The recommendations address questions and concerns about sugar, caffeine, and other ingredients to promote better overall nutrition and health.
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November 2025
Unveiling the Layers of Stigma Related to Utilization of Food Assistance and Free Food Programs
This study conducted a comprehensive literature review to understand the dimensions of stigma associated with both government food program utilization (i.e., SNAP, WIC) and non-profit administered free food programs (i.e., emergency food programs such as food banks, pantries, and cupboards) and to examine the effectiveness of existing stigma reduction interventions in the context of food More
November 2025
Legislative Health Note – Propositions LL and MM: Colorado Healthy School Meals for All
In 2022, Colorado became one of the first states in the nation to pass a universal free school meal program when Proposition FF created Colorado Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA). In May 2025, the Colorado General Assembly passed HB25-1274 to fully fund the HSMA program, which has been referred to two ballot measures in More
November 2025
Building a National Research Agenda
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) commitment to child obesity ends in December 2025, marking the conclusion of a two-decade investment in Healthy Eating Research (HER). As part of our RWJF legacy, HER is developing a national research agenda for policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) interventions and strategies to promote food and nutrition security, optimal More
October 2025
Upstream interventions in clinical settings focused on nutrition to prevent obesity during the first 1,000 days: A scoping review
Nutritional exposures during pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life influence growth and risk for obesity. Upstream interventions that involve policy, systems, and/or environmental approaches may support equitable nutrition and healthy growth early in life. Yet little is known about application of these interventions in clinical settings. This scoping review characterized the More