The goal of obesity prevention in children and youth is to create—through directed social change—an environmental-behavioral synergy that promotes:

• For the population of children and youth

  • Reduction in the incidence of childhood and adolescent obesity

  • Reduction in the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity

  • Reduction of mean population BMI levels

  • Improvement in the proportion of children meeting Dietary Guidelines for Americans

  • Improvement in the proportion of children meeting physical activity guidelines

  • Achieving physical, psychological, and cognitive growth and developmental goals

• For individual children and youth

  • A healthy weight trajectory, as defined by the CDC BMI charts

  • A healthful diet (quality and quantity)

  • Appropriate amounts and types of physical activity

  • Achieving physical, psychosocial, and cognitive growth and developmental goals

Because it may take a number of years to achieve and sustain these goals, intermediate goals are needed to assess progress toward reduction of obesity through policy and system changes. Examples include:

• Increased number of children who safely walk and bike to school

• Improved access to and affordability of fruits and vegetables for low-income populations

• Increased availability and use of community recreational facilities

• Increased play and physical activity opportunities

• Increased number of new industry products and advertising messages that promote energy balance at a healthy weight

• Increased availability and affordability of healthful foods and beverages at supermarkets, grocery stores, and farmers markets located within walking distance of the communities they serve

• Changes in institutional and environmental policies that promote energy balance