Physical Activity

Playworks, a national nonprofit organization that promotes structured, inclusive recess in low-income elementary schools, has been shown to improve student engagement, physical activity, and school climate. However, little is known about whether programs like Playworks—where trained adults lead games that…

Childcare centers and homes aim to create a healthy environment, but holistically assessing practices and identifying what to improve is often challenging. A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior highlights the reliability and validity of the Site-Level…

A recent study featured in Axios San Diego highlights new research suggesting that well-supported recess programs may play a role in improving school attendance. The study, led by Nutrition Policy Institute director, Hannah Thompson, and colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley, examined low…

A 2026 longitudinal study assessed 13 years of school-based fitness testing data from New York City students in grades 4-12 at 1,721 public schools. Researchers used data from three FitnessGram tests -aerobic capacity, push-ups, and curl-ups -and looked at how many students were meeting age- and…

Director of the Nutrition Policy Institute, Hannah Thompson, will present alongside colleagues from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Erin Hager and Rachel Deitch, in an upcoming webinar through the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research, or NCCOR, Connect &…

A new study reports that an astounding 75% of U.S. women of reproductive age do not meet activity guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Researchers analyzed the most recent data from the National Health Interview Survey, following nearly 11,000 female respondents aged 18 to…

The Nutrition Policy Institute is pleased to share the 2025 CalFresh Healthy Living data briefs, highlighting the vital contributions of local health departments and their community partners to California’s nutrition and physical activity promotion efforts during federal fiscal year 2025. The California…

Research Brief • January 2026 • Download PDF (665 KB)TABLE OF CONTENTSFFY 2025 CalFresh Healthy Living At a GlancePolicy, Systems, & Environmental Change EffortsEducational ActivitiesPartnerships & Multi-Sector CoalitionsAssessment of Policies, Practices, & OutcomesFFY 2025 CalFresh…