S. 2739: Reducing Obesity in Youth Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Reducing Obesity in Youth Act of 2025, aims to promote healthy eating and physical activity among children from birth to five years old. Its primary objectives include the following:

Program Establishment

The bill seeks to establish a program that focuses on:

• Enhancing the training and knowledge of early care and education providers to support healthy eating and physical activity among young children, while addressing the issue of food insecurity.
• Providing assistance to states in connecting early care and education programs with nutrition support services.
• Monitoring the effectiveness of initiatives that encourage healthy eating and physical activity in early care settings.
• Engaging families and parents of young children in efforts to promote healthy habits.

Healthy Kids Grant Program

The bill establishes a Healthy Kids Grant Program, which will:

• Offer five-year competitive grants to eligible organizations that work to improve healthy eating and physical activity for children in early care and education settings.
• Focus on addressing food insecurity among children aged birth to five years.

Eligibility for Grants

Entities eligible for grants include:

• Nonprofit organizations with a focus on early childhood health and obesity prevention.
• Institutions of higher education or research centers that can train early care providers.
• A consortium of the aforementioned entities that apply jointly for grants.

Grant Application and Use of Funds

To receive grant funding, entities must submit an application detailing how they plan to:

• Work with implementing partners (e.g., states, local leaders, nonprofits) to create sustainability in training programs focusing on healthy eating and physical activity.
• Build state capacity by providing training and resources that promote healthy habits in existing early care and education systems.
• Test innovative methods for improving children's health in education settings.

Tracking Progress

The bill allows the Secretary to track state progress in implementing obesity prevention policies and practices in early care and education. This includes:

• Contracts or grants to organizations that specialize in monitoring and evaluating these initiatives.
• Assessing changes in food security for children in involved programs.

Reporting Requirements

Within one year after the program's completion, the Secretary must report to Congress and relevant agencies on the effectiveness of the funded programs, highlighting best practices and insights gained during the grant activities.

Definitions and Funding Authorization

The bill defines "early care and education" as programs serving children from birth through age five, including various childcare formats. It authorizes appropriations of:

• $5,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the Healthy Kids Grant Program.
• An additional $1,700,000 in fiscal year 2026 for tracking progress.

Relevant Companies

• None found