Iowa

Iowa’s rolling plains lie between two of the country’s biggest rivers: the Missouri and Mississippi. Away from the countryside, Des Moines is the capital and most populous city in Iowa, and is a major center for insurance companies, financial services and publishing.

But aside from the state’s many positive traits, it possesses a less appealing one: More than a quarter of its children are overweight or obese, putting them at risk for serious health problems.

Thanks to support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is working with communities throughout the state to make it easier for kids to lead healthier lives.

Our Work in Iowa

In Iowa, we’re making it easier for kids to develop healthy habits.

More than 390 schools serving over 196,000 students across the state have joined Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program, creating healthier school environments for children to thrive. Since 2007, three Iowa schools have been recognized with National Healthy Schools Awards for their outstanding efforts.

In Iowa, we’ve made it easier for more than 820 youth in 12 out-of school time programs to eat right and move more.

Success Stories

Hear from a school champion from just one of the many schools and districts we work with in Iowa: Cedar Rapids Community School District, enrolled in the Healthy Schools Program since 2009.

Watch the video to learn more about how the Healthy Schools Program is helping kids lead healthier lives