The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committees has issued its scientific report to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, which will inform the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans expected to be released by the end of the year. A public comment period on the report will be open through April 8. The guidelines form the basis of federal nutrition policy and food assistance programs. 

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said in an interview last week that he plans to consider changes to updated nutrition standards for school meals as part of the upcoming reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act. The committee is expected to begin holding reauthorization hearings later this year.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Let’s Move! launched the #GimmeFive campaign yesterday, encouraging Americans to give each other high fives when making decisions to eat healthy foods or be more active. In a statement marking its five-year anniversary, Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, saluted Let’s Move for its “remarkable accomplishments that have improved the health and well-being of millions of Americans.”    

Every fourth-grader in America will receive a pass in September for a free year of family visits to every National Park in the United States, per a new Every Kids in a Park initiative announced by the White House. The initiative—part of a lead-up to the centennial anniversary of the National Park System in 2016—is designed in part to encourage children to enjoy outdoor recreation and physical activity opportunities.    

A bill to require 30-45 minutes of physical education at least two times a week in elementary schools statewide was introduced in the Tennessee Senate (SB 1025) and House of Representatives (HB 1070). The bill would also establish certification requirements for physical education teachers. If enacted, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2015. 

A bill to impose a two-cents-per-ounce tax on sodas and other drinks with added sugar (HB 235) was introduced in the Vermont House of Representatives. One-third of the revenue collected under HB 235 would be directed toward a new Vermont Healthy Weight Initiative Fund that would, among other purposes, incentivize purchases of fruits and vegetables from low-income families and support programs that promote nutrition and physical activity. The remaining two-third would be directed to the state’s Health Care Resources Fund. If enacted, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2015. 

First Lady Michelle Obama, Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, former Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., are among the headline speakers for the Partnership for a Healthier America’s fourth annual childhood obesity summit, to be held later this week. The summit will also feature the president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, who will participate on a panel “assessing progress in childhood obesity prevention, the challenge of health equity and the most promising paths forward.”

NJ Spotlight, Andrew Kitchenman, 2/20/2015

There are many reasons why New Jersey children and adults have become less healthy over the past two generations—so reversing that trend will require tackling the problem in many different ways.

Fast Company, Carey Dunne, 2/13/2015

Childhood obesity rates have more than doubled in the past 30 years, no small thanks to increasing numbers of sedentary hours spent watching television or playing video games. Ujinga, a new card game designed by researchers at a top London hospital in collaboration with the Royal College of Art, aims to get kids moving.

How Food Executives Think: From Profit Margins to New Products
March 2, 2015
1:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET
1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Vista Room – 8th Floor
Washington, D.C.

Join the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Hudson Institute at the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research for the first seminar in a quarterly series: Articulating the Food Industry Context: Potential Frameworks for Profiting Health. Register to attend in person or online.

Building Healthy Communities through Common Ground Solutions
March 5, 2015
8:15 – 11:00 a.m.
325 Russell Senate Office Building (Kennedy Caucus Room)
Washington, DC

Hosted by Leadership for Healthier Communities, this briefing will explore how policymakers can pursue targeted solutions to eliminate obesity-related health disparities and improve quality of life in diverse communities. Register to attend the briefing.

Biking and Communities of Color: Friend or Foe?
March 18, 2015
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET

Sponsored by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, this webinar will discuss how biking can impact community revitalization efforts. Register for the webinar.

Expanding Access to Healthy Food: New Data, New Ideas, New Directions
March 26, 2015
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET

Hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, this webinar will explore national and local efforts to expand healthy food access, particularly in low-income communities. Register for the webinar.