The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) announces that it has been awarded a $250,000 grant from MetLife Foundation, to promote community and regional approaches to obesity prevention. Through the grant, AAP will launch two national grant programs, which are focused on encouraging both established pediatricians and pediatricians-in-training to develop collaborative methods to educate communities about the health effects of childhood obesity.
The first program will offer "Healthy Active Living Chapter Grants," awarding five AAP chapters with $20,000 grants to initiate projects at state and local levels. The winning programs will encourage pediatricians to address obesity by building strong partnerships and working with children and families to make healthier lifestyle choices by eating better and exercising daily. These chapters will work collaboratively to focus on obesity prevention in early childhood and address health disparities around the issue.
The second program provides "Obesity Prevention Residency Training Grants," which will help pediatricians-in-training gain experience working on innovative, community-based initiatives that address obesity prevention. Five residency programs will receive grants up to $15,000 to enhance their community pediatrics training programs, with a goal to develop lasting partnerships between the residency program and the community.
Childhood obesity is a serious health condition: