Newly released: Recommendations from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America. Time to Act: Investing in the Health of Our Children and Communities calls for action on early childhood, healthy communities, and bridging health and health care. Read the report and explore the charts, infographics, and videos at RWJF.org

Education

Education has profound health effects. More schooling in general – not just health education – can lead to greater knowledge about health and greater ability to apply that knowledge to change behavior – one’s own behaviors and the behaviors of one’s children – in healthy ways. More education makes an individual more aware of healthy and unhealthy choices and makes it easier to make healthy choices. Education is tightly linked with income and wealth (see Income), which in turn are tightly linked with health; for example, more schooling yields opportunities for more rewarding jobs with healthier working conditions (see Work).

Resources

  • Issue Brief: Education Matters for Health

    This Commission issue brief, Education Matters for Health, discusses the large body of evidence linking education and health and examines why, across America and generations, people with more education live longer and experience better health outcomes.

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  • Gaps in Adult Health Status by Level of Education: How Do States Compare?

    Although the size of the state-level gap in adult health status varies markedly across the United States, adults in every state could be healthier.

  • Gaps in Adult Health Status by Level of Education: How Do States Compare?

    Comparing states based on the size of the gap in adult health status by education tells us that Americans are not as healthy as they could be, both nationally and in every state.

  • Gaps in Adult Health Status by Level of Education: How Do States Compare?

    Comparing states based on the size of the gap in adult health status by education tells us that Americans are not as healthy as they could be, both nationally and in every state.

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Perspectives

  • Stories

    Claudine Paris

    At 71, Claudine Paris feels like a “rock star” every day she walks through the hallways of James John Elementary School in Portland, Ore., where she volunteers as a literacy tutor. Meet Claudine Paris

     

    Ed Fendley

    As chairman of the Arlington County School Board in the Northern Virginia suburbs, Ed Fendley touts walking and biking as good for the bottom line. Every teacher or student that passes up a ride in a car to get to school saves the district money on parking, reduces air pollution and alleviates traffic jams in front of local schools. Meet Ed Fendley

     

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  • Leadership Blog

    A Closing Word from Risa Lavizzo-Mourey on the Commission to Build a Healthier America

    by Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
    December 17, 2009

    After a year and a half, two major reports and national events, three regional field hearings, nine issue briefs, two chart books, and more than 50 meetings with leaders from government and the private sector, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America has come to a close. Read More

    From Congress to the Cafeteria: Healthy Food is a Priority

    by David R. Williams, Ph.D., Staff Director
    November 03, 2009

    The Commission recognized the importance of nutritious food for improving the health of Americans when it released its recommendations in April. It saw communities without any access to grocery stores and fresh produce, school meals for children containing chicken nuggets, pizza and fries, and a country disconnected from the food system it relies on for its nutritional wellbeing. But recently, the tide has begun to turn. Read More

    Addressing Your Questions from the Accessing Healthy Foods Webinar

    by Staff, Commission to Build a Healthier America
    September 10, 2009

    Thanks to all who joined the August 10 webinar focusing on promoting health by improving access to healthy foods. As with the previous two webinars, we've collected all the questions and answered them here on the Leadership Blog. Read More

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News and Events

  • USA Today: A healthier Head Start focuses more on preventing obesity

    December 08, 2009

    Many preschool children in Head Start programs are being offered fruits and vegetables and low-fat or non-fat milk daily as directors are increasingly concerned about childhood obesity. The children also have a chance to play each day. Read More

  • The Health Care Blog: We the Consumers

    November 10, 2009

    As part of the work of the Commission to Build a Healthier America, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released an issue brief in September, titled Education and Health. The RWJF study finds that those of us that never graduated from high school are twice as likely to report being in poor health than college graduates. Read More

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