About Us

History

The Children in Balance initiative was launched in March 2005 with a $5 million gift from the New Balance Foundation. This gift created the New Balance Chair in Childhood Nutrition, as well as three endowed graduate fellowships. With this ten year commitment from the New Balance foundation, Tufts University was able to enhance significantly programs and competencies in childhood nutrition, allowing for growth in research, scholarship, advocacy, training, program testing and evaluation as well as dissemination efforts. Our aim over the next ten years is to establish a balance between scientific rigor and health action towards the end of improving children's health both now and in the future.

Our Mission

To reverse and prevent childhood obesity utilizing advanced scientific research that will empower individuals and communities to catalyze social change.

Our Vision

We strive to empower community leaders and caretakers to build environments that will promote healthy eating and increase physical activity in children.

To achieve our vision of changed environments for the well-child, we engage in the following four activities:

• Conduct rigorous scientific research
• Educate and train future leaders
• Disseminate evidence based interventions and "best practices" that will catalyze social change
• Influence and inform policy