November 2026

Join NCCOR at ObesityWeek® 2026!

November 2026, NCCOR

As the obesity field continues to evolve, collaboration across clinical care, research, public health, and policy is essential to ensuring that new discoveries translate into meaningful impact. This November, the NCCOR team is looking forward to participating in ObesityWeek® 2026 in Washington, DC, where we will convene experts and partners to explore emerging evidence, identify critical research needs, and discuss strategies for improving obesity prevention and treatment. ObesityWeek® brings together researchers, clinicians, advocates, and policymakers to advance innovative science and transformational care.

On Saturday, November 14 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET, NCCOR will present “From Gaps to Guidance: Advancing Clinical Research in Pediatric Obesity Pharmacotherapy” in Potomac C123 (Ballroom Level) at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Recent advances in obesity pharmacotherapy are reshaping pediatric obesity care, with more clinicians treating children and adolescents using evidence-based medications. Yet important questions remain regarding prescribing practices, long-term maintenance, and discontinuation of treatment in real-world settings. Drawing on insights from NCCOR’s Clinical Research Gaps workshop, this symposium will examine key evidence gaps and discuss priorities needed to strengthen future care for young patients.

NCCOR will also partner with @The Obesity Society for a TOS/NCCOR Collaborative Symposium, “Assessing Capacity to Address Obesity Using Whole-of-Systems Approaches for Cancer Prevention and Control,” on Monday, November 16 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. ET in National Harbor Rooms 2-3. While clinical innovations are expanding treatment options, policy, systems, and environmental approaches remain critical for achieving population-level impact. This session will highlight lessons learned from an NCCOR network of projects that have leveraged innovative research methods, cross-sector partnerships, and novel outcome measures across diverse communities. Presenters will explore how whole-of-systems approaches can strengthen capacity, advance impact, and support sustainable obesity prevention and cancer control efforts.

The NCCOR team will also be in the Exhibit Hall at Booth #842 from November 14-16. Visit the booth to learn more about our current projects, research resources, and collaborative efforts to advance obesity prevention and treatment. Whether you are interested in clinical treatment, systems-level approaches, implementation science, or emerging research priorities, we welcome the opportunity to connect and exchange ideas.

See NCCOR’s schedule at a glance below:

📅 November 14 – 16 

📍 Exhibit Hall – Booth #842

📅 November 14, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Symposium: From Gaps to Guidance: Advancing Clinical Research in Pediatric Obesity Pharmacotherapy
📍 Potomac C123 (Ballroom Level)

📅 November 16, 10:00-11:30 a.m. ET
TOS/NCCOR Collaborative Symposium: Assessing Capacity to Address Obesity Using Whole-of-Systems Approaches for Cancer Prevention and Control
📍 National Harbor Rooms 2-3

To stay informed about NCCOR’s presence at other conferences—and the Collaborative’s ongoing efforts to advance research and practice in childhood obesity prevention—visit the NCCOR website and follow NCCOR on LinkedIn and X.

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NCCOR Toolbox: New NCCOR White Paper Identifies Research Priorities in Pediatric Obesity Pharmacotherapy

November 2026, NCCOR

NCCOR recently released the Clinical Research Gaps in Pediatric Obesity Pharmacotherapy white paper, which outlines key research priorities related to the use of GLP-1s and other obesity medications for children and adolescents. Developed through a year-long workshop with experts in research and clinical care, the white paper highlights 35 priority research questions and describes clinical protocols, outcomes, and tools that could help address key evidence gaps, guide future research, and improve the quality and consistency of care for youth with obesity. Read the white paper and explore the supporting resources on the NCCOR website.

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Food Policy Council Directory and Dashboard

October 2026, Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future

The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future’s Food Policy Council Directory and Dashboard show the locations and characteristics of active food policy councils (FPCs) in the United States. The directory filters FPCs by state or geographic focus and the dashboard presents charts on commonly requested characteristics of FPCs, such as organization type, annual budget, and policy work. The data are from the 2023 and 2025 censuses of FPCs.

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Triple Bottom Line: Retail Perspectives on Nutritious Food Donations

September 2026, Center for Science in the Public Interest

Affording food has become increasingly challenging for many households, and at the same time food banks are experiencing a greater demand for their services. Food retailers remain a critical partner in responding to this need, donating the largest share (35 percent) of food distributed through food banks and pantries. However, retailers must balance the triple bottom line of profit, people, and the planet while facing cost and operational pressures. These competing factors shape how retail food donation programs are implemented and sustained.

Many food banks and pantries are requesting donations of foods that support health. More than 100 food banks have adopted the Healthy Eating Research Nutrition Guidelines for the Charitable Food System and are prioritizing sourcing and supplying more nutritious foods. There is limited research on the barriers and facilitators to healthy food donations from retailers, including the operational realities that shape donation decisions, how retailers view requests to prioritize donating healthier foods, and what strategies have helped retailers increase healthful donations.

To explore these questions, we interviewed nine corporate- and three store-level retail professionals across eight grocery companies with experience in food donation programs from the Mid-Atlantic region. Interviews covered food donation practices, priorities, challenges, and innovations. This report provides practical insights from those conversations to advance both business and community goals for food donations, including improving access to nutritious foods.

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Direct Certification With Medicaid and School Lunch Participation Among Maryland Public Schools

October 14, 2026, JAMA Network Open

Importance

States may join the US Department of Agriculture Direct Certification with Medicaid (DCM) program, allowing schools to use Medicaid participation to automatically qualify students for free and reduced-price school meals (F/RP). DCM also informs the Identified Student Percentage (ISP), which determines eligibility for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Pre–COVID-19 evaluations found mixed associations between DCM and school meal participation. Pandemic-era policies included free meals for all students, which has ended in most states. Therefore, a postpandemic evaluation of DCM is warranted.

 Objective

To examine the association of Maryland’s DCM implementation in the 2022-2023 school year (SY22-23) with ISP, CEP eligibility and enrollment, and school lunch participation.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this cohort study, publicly available school-level data were used to examine annual ISP, CEP participation, and school lunch participation among public schools in Maryland. A school-level fixed effects model evaluated changes in school lunch participation before (SY18-19 and SY19-20) and after (SY22-23 and SY23-24) DCM implementation among non-CEP schools. A 2-way fixed effects model tested the association between CEP enrollment and school lunch participation among schools newly eligible for CEP due to DCM. Data analyses were conducted from July to December 2025.

Exposure

DCM implementation.

Main Outcomes and Measures

ISP, CEP eligibility and enrollment, and school lunch participation.

Results

Among 1252 schools, 856 (68.4%) were elementary, 221 (17.7%) were middle, and 175 (14.0%) were high schools; 734 (58.6%) were suburban, 258 (20.6%) were located in rural or small towns, and 260 (20.8%) were urban. Mean (SD) ISP increased from 25.9% (17.5%) in SY21-22 to 37.3% (19.6%) in SY22-23 after DCM implementation. In SY23-24, CEP eligibility and enrollment increased by 26.7 and 22.2 percentage points, respectively. School lunch participation increased by 1.9 (95% CI, 1.1-2.8) percentage points (P < .001) among non-CEP schools post-DCM (SY22-23 and SY23-24). Among schools newly participating in CEP, school lunch participation increased by 6.5 (95% CI, 4.6-8.3) percentage points (P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of Maryland public schools, DCM implementation was associated with increases in direct certification for F/RP meals, CEP participation, and lunch participation. DCM implementation may support school meal participation in the post–COVID-19 pandemic context. Programs such as CEP and Medicaid may warrant policy attention to support school meal access and its benefits for student health and academic outcomes.

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Cross-Sectional Evaluation of WIC Participation Status and Massachusetts Children's Nutrition after the Cash-Value Benefit Increase

October 12, 2026, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Background

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) increased the Cash-Value Benefit (CVB) for fruits and vegetables in 2021. Although WIC participants reported increased purchasing, consumption, and variety of fruits and vegetables after the CVB increase, it is unknown whether this resulted in higher fruit and vegetable intake relative to nonparticipants.

Objective

The objective of this study was to estimate differences in fruit and vegetable behaviors and total diet quality by WIC participation status in a convenience sample of children aged 1 to 4 years who participated in the Understanding Pandemic WIC-Waivers: Access, Redemption, Disparities (UPWARD) study.

Design

This was a cross-sectional study.

Participants/setting

From January 2024 to February 2025, caregivers of 280 Massachusetts children proxy-reported their child’s intake after the CVB increase via a frequency-based dietary screener and 24-hour recalls.

Main outcome measures

Primary outcomes were fruit and vegetable frequency of consumption (times per week) and mean daily intake (cup-equivalents). Secondary outcomes were diet quality scores using the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020) (range, 0-100 points).

Statistical analyses

Inverse probability weighted regression models evaluated the association between WIC participation status and dietary outcomes.

Results

WIC-participating children aged 1 to 4 years consumed fruits a mean (SE) of 4.0 (1.2) more times per week (P < .01) and consumed 0.6 (0.4) cups more fruits per day (P < .001) than nonparticipating children. WIC children also consumed vegetables a mean (SE) of 2.5 (0.9) more times per week (P < .01), although there was no difference in vegetable intake (mean [SE], –0.02 [0.3] cup-equivalents; P > .05), There were no differences in toddler or child diet quality by WIC participation status, although power was limited in these age-stratified models.

 Conclusions

After the CVB increase, WIC-participating children consumed fruits and vegetables more often and consumed higher quantities of fruits than nonparticipants.

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Prevalence of Frequent Mental Distress and Physical Inactivity Among Adults Aged 18–29 Years — United States, 2012–2024

October 8, 2026, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Poor mental health accounts for an estimated $300 billion in medical, pharmaceutical, and workplace- and suicide-related costs in the United States each year; promoting physical activity is an evidence-based approach to improving mental health. Identifying geographic groups with high prevalences of frequent mental distress and physical inactivity could help focus strategies that improve both outcomes. Young adults aged 18–29 years experience the highest prevalence of mental health conditions compared with other adult age groups. Using 2012–2024 data for adults aged 18–29 years from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC calculated frequent mental distress and physical inactivity prevalences nationally and by state or territory (jurisdiction). Nationwide, from 2012 to 2024, statistically significant overall increases in the prevalences of frequent mental distress (from 12.7% to 21.3%) and physical inactivity (from 15.9% to 16.8%) were observed. These national changes reflect jurisdiction-level changes from 2012 to 2024, because the prevalence of frequent mental distress increased and physical inactivity prevalence remained unchanged or increased in nearly every jurisdiction. However, examining year-to-year national changes revealed substantial recent declines in both frequent mental distress (during 2022–2023 and 2023–2024) and physical inactivity (during 2023–2024). Improving these outcomes can help prevent chronic diseases, reduce health care costs, and improve overall quality of life. Opportunities exist to improve mental health and increase physical activity concurrently through strategies that include social support groups for physical activity or changes to the physical environment. Such approaches might help sustain recent improvements in mental health and physical activity and lead to overall improvements in health.

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An Electronic Health Record-Based Intervention to Facilitate Primary Care Referrals to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children: Retrospective Cohort Study

October 7, 2026, JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting

Background

Despite the benefits of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), many eligible children remain unenrolled.

Objective

This study evaluated responses to an electronic health record (EHR)–embedded federal nutrition program (FNP) participation screening and WIC referral tool implemented within 8 clinics during well-child visits for children younger than 5 years of age.

Methods

Structured EHR data from July 2020 to October 2023 were extracted to summarize screening, referral acceptance, WIC enrollment outcomes, and patient demographics. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine patient-level predictors of WIC nonenrollment at the first screening, referral acceptance, and enrollment among those accepting a referral, with analyses stratified by clinic type.

Results

Among 5385 children, 51.8% (n=2785) were newborn-aged, 36.6% (n=1969) were Hispanic, and 87.8% (n=4726) were Medicaid-insured. The mean age at the initial screening was 10.7 (SD 14.2) months. Among screened patients (n=3606), 34% (n=1235) were not enrolled in WIC at the first screening. Medicaid coverage, an academic clinic setting, non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic race, and ethnicity were associated with lower odds of WIC nonenrollment. Among those not enrolled with a documented response to referral (n=819), 59% (n=488) accepted the referral. Acceptance was higher among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic patients, newborn-aged patients, those with Medicaid coverage, and those seen in academic clinics. Among referral acceptors with follow-up (n=438), 61% (n=265) were enrolled at the last screening, with higher odds among newborn-aged patients and those in academic clinics.

Conclusions

An EHR-based automated intervention can facilitate screening and referral to WIC. WIC participation at the first screening, referral acceptance, and enrollment after referral varied by sociodemographic characteristics, suggesting opportunities to improve equitable access through health care system–based approaches.

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Classroom Movement Breaks in Relation to Health and Academic Outcomes: An Umbrella Review

October 7, 2026, Journal of School Health

Background

Classroom movement breaks (CMBs) reduce school-day sedentary time. This umbrella review synthesized evidence on health and academic benefits of CMBs among school-aged children and explored outcomes by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES).

Methods

A systematic search of systematic reviews and meta-analyses up to April 2024 was conducted in five databases. Reviews examining CMBs’ impacts on health and/or academic outcomes were included. Study quality was assessed using AMSTAR2.

Findings

Sixteen reviews examined PA (physical activity; n = 12), classroom behaviors (n = 5), academics (n = 9, 4-overall and 6-domain-specific academics), cognition (n = 8), and health (n = 5). All PA-outcome reviews reported benefits. Most reviews reported improved classroom behaviors (3/5), cognition (6/8), and overall academics (3/4). Findings were mixed for domain-specific academics and inconclusive for health. Methodological quality of all reviews was rated as low/critically low. Few reviews assessed differences by race, ethnicity, or SES.

Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity

Although CMBs showed potential benefits, recommendations for school implementation should be made with caution. Equity impacts remain understudied.

Conclusions

CMBs may benefit students’ activity, classroom behaviors, overall academics, and cognition, but evidence for subject-specific academics and health remained mixed or inconclusive. Current findings should be interpreted cautiously. Future research should address low methodological quality, utilize long-term designs, incorporate uniform CMBs interventions/outcome measures, and address equity gaps.

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School Nutrition Policies and Associations With Academic Outcomes: A Comprehensive Summary of Current Evidence

October 6, 2026, Journal of School Health

Background

Healthy diets can improve cognitive function; therefore, school nutrition policies may support academic performance. Prior systematic reviews documented positive associations between school nutrition-related policies and academics, but less is known about their associations with academic inequities. This review updates the evidence while addressing the gap on academic inequities.

Methods

Building on two prior systematic reviews (2021, 2023) of naturally-occurring during-school U.S. nutrition policies and academics (i.e., attendance, test scores, behavior), we conducted an updated systematic search using their established terms and synthesized evidence on academic equity (differences in subgroup outcomes, i.e., race, ethnicity, income).

Results

This updated comprehensive review includes 33 studies (10 new, 23 from the prior reviews). Newly identified studies examined Universal Free School Meals (UFSM; n = 6), Breakfast After the Bell (BATB; n = 2), the School Breakfast Program (n = 1), and Recess Before Lunch (n = 1). Most reported positive or neutral academic associations. Most studies examining equity-related outcomes found larger academic improvements among subpopulations.

Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity

School nutrition policies can improve academic achievement while addressing educational equity.

Conclusions

UFSM and BATB equitably improve academic performance. More research is needed for other promising policies.

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