Reversing the obesity epidemic: policy strategies for health funders.

As part of its continuing mission to serve trustees and staff of health foundations and corporate giving programs, Grantmakers In Health (GIH) convened a group of health funders and policy experts on November 3, 2006 to discuss policy strategies to reverse the obesity epidemic. This report, drawing upon a background paper prepared for the Issue Dialogue and discussion at that meeting, provides an overview of the costs and consequences of the obesity epidemic; presents the rationale for using policy approaches to change food and physical activity environments; and highlights the efforts of health funders supporting policy change in schools, food systems and sustainable agriculture, the built environment, and across communities. It also briefly examines trends and opportunities in health systems, workplaces, and state programs, and concludes with a discussion of challenges and opportunities for moving forward.