More than 1,000 programs are spending more than $7 billion to fight the growing national epidemic of childhood obesity, but a fundamental lack of coordination is hampering their ability to make a difference in children's health, says a new survey supported by nutrition faculty members at the University of California, Davis.

"The survey results reveal an astounding storehouse of resources that desperately need coordination in order to effectively deal with the problem of childhood obesity in the United States," said Judith Stern, a UC Davis nutrition professor and internationally recognized authority on all aspects of obesity. "This really is a landmark report that shines light on both the opportunities and challenges that face those of us in government, the business community and academia who are committed to turning the tide of obesity that has engulfed our nation's youth."

The findings were announced today at a news conference in New York, which Stern attended. They were released by Shaping America's Youth, an initiative supported by the U.S. Surgeon General and Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy of Pediatrics, industry partners and faculty in the UC Davis Department of Nutrition.

The survey gathered information from nearly 1,100 programs that deal with childhood physical activity, nutrition and weight management in the United States. It was intended to develop a portrait of the nation's commitment to dealing with childhood obesity. The survey was conducted by Academic Network, a private healthcare consulting firm, whose president, David McCarron, is a visiting professor in UC Davis' nutrition department.

The survey found that, although there is a multitude of programs addressing the issue of childhood obesity, 40 percent of the programs surveyed are funded for just a single year, only 4 percent have reported any outcomes from their efforts, and 91 percent expressed a strong need for a national dialogue on childhood obesity and for creation of partnerships and national standards.

The problem of childhood obesity has been growing rapidly in recent decades. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the number of overweight children more than doubled between 1980 and 2000. Among children ranging in age from 6 years to 19 years, 15 percent were overweight in 2003 compared with 11 percent in 2002. Due to their excessive weight, these children are considered to be at higher risk for developing serious health problems including type two diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, heart disease, adult obesity and mental health disorders.

The complete report on the survey as well as background information on Shaping America's Youth is available online at http://www.shapingamericasyouth.com/default.aspx