"Healthy U," is the nation’s largest, evidence-based after-school program designed to combat childhood obesity. The four-year program is a partnership between The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance. The primary goal of the initiative is to lower obesity rates by 10 percent in the 18,000 children taking part in the program. The first year evaluation of Healthy U was conducted by The University of Texas, School of Public Health. The results show improvement in key health measurements including increased physical activity and healthier eating.

Highlighted year-one Healthy U results are as follows:

• Increases in moderate to vigorous physical activity: Activity level rose from 46.4 percent at the start of the program to 62.73 percent at the end of year-one.
• Increases in the number of times children drank plain or flavored water: Consumption increased from 1.54 times per day at the start of the program to 1.65 times per day at the end of year-one.
• Increases in the number of times children ate fruit or vegetables: Consumption increased from 2.11 times per day at the start of the program to 2.38 times per day at the end of year-one.

Increases in parents supporting healthy eating outside of the program: 64.7 percent at the start of the program to 67.4 percent at the end of year-one