The growing awareness of the social and medical impact of overweight and obesity has encouraged the development of local, state and federal initiatives. These efforts are particularly important when they target youth, because eating and activity patterns established in childhood have been shown to carry into adulthood. To better understand the health environment for Kansas youth, this study examined key policies and practices that affect public school children across the state.
KHI and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment co-authored this 2005 report based on a comprehensive oral health survey of third grade children in Kansas.